On September 7, 2023, a storm swept through Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey, causing massive floods and disasters that have killed at least 14 people and caused extensive damage to local infrastructure and people's lives.
One of the hardest-hit areas in Bulgaria is the city of Tsarevo, located on the Black Sea coast. As of 6 September, four people had been tragically killed. Due to the continuous torrential rains, the city of Tsarevo declared a state of emergency, hundreds of people were forced to evacuate and the holiday camp was flooded. Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov said that the rainfall in the southern region in 24 hours is equivalent to three times the normal monthly rainfall.
Greece was also hit by flooding, especially the city of Volos. As of 6 September, three people had been killed in Greece as a result of flooding. The city of Volos was badly damaged, roads and bridges were badly damaged, and the city was "cut in half" by floods. The electricity supply system has completely ceased to function, most areas have been cut off from water, and restoration work has been slow to be affected by the ongoing flooding. Several villages were evacuated, cities imposed traffic bans, and citizens received mobile phone alerts to avoid unnecessary travel.
Turkey suffered more severe flooding, especially Istanbul. According to emergency services, the floods destroyed more than 1,700 homes and shops in Istanbul, killing at least 2 people and injuring more than 30. Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yelikaya also reported on the damage in other areas, including the flooding of a campsite, killing five tourists and missing one.
The sudden flooding has already taken a heavy toll on these countries, and local governments and aid agencies are working hard to reduce further casualties and damage as soon as possible.