Bad weather Gaia: Landslides and bridge collapse in Arta – Which areas are affected
The Emergency Bulletin of Hazardous Weather Phenomena which was issued on Saturday (10/12) with a.a.21, is updated according to the news predictive data. In particular, the bad weather system named GAIA from the afternoon hours of Sunday (11/12) starts to weaken.
Locally strong phenomena will continue to appear in western Greece until the afternoon, in the Cyclades, Eastern Macedonia, Thrace and the islands of the eastern Aegean until the evening and in the Dodecanese until late evening.
It is noted that the phenomena will be especially in western and southern Crete, in the islands of the eastern Aegean (from Samos and further south) and in the Dodecanese.
Updated EMY emergency bulletin
According to EMYthe severe weather system named GAIA is predicted to affect our country until Sunday night (11/12) with heavy rains and
thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, gusty southerly winds and localized hail.
More specifically:
The phenomena that have begun to occur will continue
on Sunday (11-12-2022):
a. until the midday hours, in Epirus, the Ionian, the western Continent,
western Macedonia and the western parts of Thessaly
b. until the afternoon, in the western and southern Peloponnese and central Sterea
c. from midday to evening hours, in eastern Macedonia,
Thrace and the islands of the eastern Aegean
d. in the midday and afternoon hours, in the Cyclades and Crete
e. from noon until late at night, in the Dodecanese
It is noted that the phenomena in Epirus, the Ionian, the western mainland and
Peloponnese west on the night to Sunday (11-12-2022) to be
particularly strong and in some places dangerous.
See here live the development of the bad weather
A bridge collapsed in Arta
Western Greece faces the biggest problems from extreme weather phenomena. The collapse of a bridge in Komboti and the drifting of houses in Arta are left behind by the natural disaster. In which areas was the fire brigade called to intervene? The emergency weather bulletin remains active.
Bad weather Gaia continues to pound western Greece and cause serious problems. The heavy rains and strong winds have alarmed the citizens and the competent authorities, with the destruction recorded mainly in the Arta area in the last hours. Specifically, on Sunday afternoon (11/12), a provincial road in Komboti was closed as a bridge collapsed in the area.
As the website states epiruspost, the bridge had also collapsed in 2015 when severe flooding had occurred again in the area. Restoration work had been done on the bridge, however, a part of it caved in again and traffic was stopped.
Two houses were swept away
At the same time, there was a strong landslide phenomenon in the settlement of Melissourges, because of it bad weather GAIA. A house was swept away by the bad weather, ending up on top of another, causing serious damage.
In accordance with epiruspost.gr. the landslide it took place near the village square, without any intervention by the authorities being possible for the time being.
The Civil Protection of the Region of Epirus has already informed the IGME and a group of scientists in general to hold on Monday (12/12) autopsy in order to subsequently propose the appropriate measures.
The concern of the residents is intense and the fear great about the dimension that the phenomenon will take.
The Mayor of Central Tzoumerki Christos Hasiakos contacted by Epiruspost reported that the two houses have been heavily damaged while the phenomenon is ongoing.
Problems in Ioannina
THE bad weather GAIA has created serious problems in Janina.
More specifically, serious damage occurred to the central pedestal of the pedestrian bridge in Tzoumerka, near the Plaka bridge, from the swollen Raftanitiko river.
According to the municipality of V. Tzoumerkon, teams of engineers from the Region of Epirus with the Civil Protection of the municipality visited the site. The bridge will remain closed until further notice.
Civil Protection meeting and messages 112
A meeting was held today Sunday (11/12) at the Ministry of Climate of Crete and Civil Protection on the development of bad weather GAIA.
At meeting among others, the leadership of the ministry as well as meteorologists took part in order to evaluate its development so far bad weather GAIAwhich has been affecting various regions of the country since yesterday, as well as the new meteorological data.
In the context of the meeting, the development of the weather phenomena so far was examined and it was decided that will activate the 112 for sending warning messages to the residents of specific areas, depending on the course of the phenomena.
Earlier, messages through 112 were sent to its residents southern Creteher Samos and of Dodecanese warning them of dangerous weather conditions in their area in the next few hours and calling on them to limit their movements to those that are absolutely necessary.
Specifically, the messages state: “Dangerous weather phenomena (strong storms-stormy winds) from noon until the early evening of 11/12 in southern Crete and from the afternoon until the morning of 12/12 in Samos and the Dodecanese. Limit movements to those absolutely necessary and follow authorities’ instructions. Self-protection instructions: https://www.civilprotection.gr/el/entona-kairika-fainomena”.
In addition, yesterday, three were sent warnings messages from 112for extreme weather events in Epirus, Aetoloakarnania and Peloponnese.
In total, from yesterday until this Sunday morning, the Operations Center of the Fire Department received 83 calls, mainly for cutting trees but also removing objects and pumping water.
The General Secretariat of Civil Protection of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection is on full alert and has informed the relevant state agencies, regions and municipalities of the country so that they are in increased readiness protection policy to be dealt with immediately after the presentation of the intense phenomena.
In addition, his business plan Fire Brigadeto deal with risks from the occurrence of floods, as well as their accompanying phenomena, has been implemented since Friday, December 9, 2022, while the Fire Services of the areas where the phenomena can occur, have been placed in a state of increased readiness and further escalation since required, in order to deal with any problems immediately.
At the same time, recommendations to citizens to be especially careful, taking care of the taking self-protection measures from risks arising from the manifestation of severe weather phenomena, the General Secretariat of Civil Protection addresses in view of the weather demonstration.
In particular, in areas where heavy rainfall, storms or gale-force winds are predicted to occur or GPP recommends to citizens:
- To secure objects which, if carried away by severe weather conditions, may cause damage or injury.
- Make sure the hatches and housings are not blocked and are working properly.
- Avoid crossing torrents and streams, on foot or by car, during storms and rainfall, but also for a few hours after the end of their event.
- Avoid outdoor work and activities in marine and coastal areas during the occurrence of severe weather events (risk of lightning strikes).
- Take shelter immediately during a hailstorm. Take refuge in a building or car and do not leave the safe area until they are sure the storm has passed. Relaxation can be very dangerous for animals too.
- Avoid passing under large trees, under posted signs and generally through areas where light objects (eg pots, broken glass etc.) can become detached and fall to the ground (eg under balconies) .
- To faithfully follow the instructions of the local authorities, such as Traffic, etc.
It is noted that according to the update of the Emergency Bulletin of Dangerous Weather Phenomena issued today, Sunday, December 11, 2022, by the National Meteorological Service (NMS), the severe weather system named “GAIA” from the afternoon hours of Sunday (11-12-202) begins to fade.
Locally strong phenomena will continue to appear in western Greece until the afternoon, in the Cyclades, Eastern Macedonia, Thrace and the islands of the eastern Aegean until the evening and in the Dodecanese until late evening.
It is noted that, the phenomena will be particularly special in West and southern Crete, the islands of the eastern Aegean (from Samos and further south) and the Dodecanese.
Citizens can be updated daily on the development of extraordinary weather phenomena in the regular weather reports of the EMY and on the website of the EMY at the electronic address www.emy.gr.
For information and announcements about the prevailing situation and the passability of the road network due to the introduction of flood waters into it, citizens should visit the EL.AS website. www.astynomia.gr.
For more information and self-protection instructions from severe weather, citizens can visit the website of the General Secretariat of Civil Protection at the email address www.civilprotection.gr.