Flash floods on Greek island of Evia kill seven including baby

Heavy rains and thunderstorms have caused flash flooding on the central Greek island of Evia, killing at least seven people including an 8-month-old baby and elderly couple.

Fire brigade officials said on Sunday three of the victims, including the baby, were found in the village of Politika. The other four were in the village of Amfithea and the village of Bourtzi in central Evia, northeast of the capital, Athens.

Rescuers are still searching for one missing person. A woman previously reported as missing was found alive and well, the civilian protection agency said.

Greece’s meteorological service said parts of Evia saw rainfall that reached 300 millimeters, some 80 percent of the annual rainfall for the area, which is only about 375 millimeters, usually with negligible rain during the summer.

In Bourtzi, restaurant terraces, a children’s playground, some parking lots and parts of the narrow coastal road were swept away by the torrential rains and mudslides.

The fire department received hundreds of calls to pump water from homes and vehicles submerged in mud.

Dozens were evacuated and 43 people were rescued by helicopter as roads flooded an area where a river had burst its banks. Transport was widely disrupted.

Deputy Minister for Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, arrived on the scene of the disaster on Sunday morning to assess the situation.

“It is a difficult day today. The state mechanism put in a great struggle. The forecast for this phenomenon was 63 mm of rain in 24 hours. The last count is over 300 mm. Many lives have been saved today. Our thoughts are with the people who did not make it,” Mr Hardalias said.

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is set to visit Evia on Monday to assess the situation.

“I express my deep sorrow for our fellow human beings who lost their lives in Evia and my heartfelt condolences to their loved ones,” Mitsotakis wrote on Twitter on Sunday afternoon.