Efthymis Lekkas, professor of dynamic tectonics, applied geology and disaster management EKPA, said that more than 75,000,000 tonnes of precipitation fell during Cyclone Ballos in Attica, Evia and Ilia.
As he explained, this is an unprecedented phenomenon that has reached the limits of the extreme. “We’re dealing with a downpourthat fell in three different regions, ”he said.
Regarding the flooded roads in Attica, Mr. Leccas explained that it is different from Evia and Elijah. “Attica is a fully urbanized area. Consequently, the water flows superficially and collects very quickly into the sewage canals (in this case, the channels of the Ilissos and Kifissos rivers).
Therefore, on the highways of the same name, the terrible consequences of flooding were observed: “If we had more rainfall, both rivers would overflow their banks.” The expert added that if the Kifissos River overflowed, there would be a serious problem, including in the areas of Piraeus and Kallithea (where the rivers flow into the sea).
Problems with severe soil erosion and landslides
Regarding Elijah and Evia, Mr. Leccas stressed that these are not urbanized areas, but forests, which have been partially destroyed by fire, and therefore other problems have arisen here.
“We face the challenges of intense erosion, landslides, the movement of burnt logs carried out to sea and millions of tons of ash that create a dangerous, highly acidic mud mass,” he said.
“It was very important that all forces, even the army, were constantly at the disposal of the Civil Protection in order to intervene urgently if necessary,” the professor emphasized, noting that the climate crisis is already here, and there will be more and more such weather disasters every year. …
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