Flash floods wreak havoc in Greece, Albania and Macedonia

Adverse weather will be moving across southern Europe during this week as a winter storm slowly moves to Spain and Portugal through Italy into the Balkan Peninsula. Spain and Italy are likely to get 25 to 50 mm of rain. The areas include west coast of Italy, Rome and Naples whereas, the Italian Alps, Denaric Alps and lower elevations of Milan are likely to witness several inches of snow during the weekend.

Flash floods triggered by torrential rains have submerged parts of Greece, Southern Albania and Macedonia. The rainfall occurred mainly from Saturday till Monday in Greece. No casualties have been reported in the area, and four rivers have been overflowing in the country. There has been high profile casualty in the form of damage to the Plaka Bridge, the central portion of the bridge has been washed away. The Plaka Bridge is the largest arch bridge in the Balkans.

In Albania torrential downpours have forced thousands of people to flee from their homes in the area of Vlore, Fier, Gjirokaster and south of capital Tirana. In Gjirokaster 220 mm of rain has been recorded from Saturday to Monday which is more than the monthly average of February. In the next 48 hours another 100-150 mm of rain is expected in south Albania and Northwest Greece. Persistent heavy rain is causing big problems for southern Europe where flash floods are forcing people to evacuate to safer places.

Soldiers have been sent to Albanian and Macedonian towns to help people reach safer places. Most of the eastern Macedonian region has been placed on a state of emergency due to floods. North and Central parts of Greece have also been placed on a state of emergency by the authorities.

The Balkan states will witness worse weather between Thursday into the weekend where accumulating snow is expected in Bucharest, Budapest, Belgrade, Sarajevo and Zagreb.