(MENAFN- Gulf Times)
The death toll from flash floods near Athens last week has risen to 21, with one more person still missing, officials said on Tuesday.
The body of a truck driver was recovered at a municipal vehicle lot in Mandra, the town near Athens worst hit by the flood, nearly a week after he disappeared.
The freak flood struck early last Wednesday in the towns of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, some 50 kilometres west of Athens.
Six month's worth of rain fell in just six hours, experts said.
Most of the victims were drowned, carried away by the floodwaters and mudslides, or trapped in flooded cars or basements. Several were found at sea.
Around 1,000 homes and properties have been certified as damaged and their owners will receive state compensation, the government said.
Greece is also expected to request EU solidarity funds for the stricken areas.
The government says ill-conceived building in the area -- some of it by local municipal authorities -- meant this was a disaster waiting to happen.
Corrective drainage works for the area were approved last year, but the work has yet to begin.
MENAFN2111201700670000ID1096123415
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.