A coast guard officer was killed in Greece due to the storm, and the prime minister's trip was postponed
A member of the Greek coast guard died on Wednesday in a tragic accident while on duty, as the country was battered by severe weather and storms. The Greek government confirmed the news, stating that the accident occurred amidst harsh weather conditions, including strong winds and heavy rain.
Details of the tragic accident
In the details of the incident, the Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs, Vassilis Kikilias, mourned the deceased in a post on the "X" platform, explaining that the man lost his life while on official duty in the coastal city of Astros, located in the eastern Peloponnese region. According to initial information from the scene, the victim was performing a heroic act, urging local fishermen to leave the area and secure their boats to protect their lives, before a powerful wave swept him away, causing fatal injuries.
Emergency measures and political postponements
The storm currently heading towards eastern Greece has caused partial paralysis in some areas, with wind speeds exceeding 100 kilometers per hour. Faced with this imminent danger, Greek authorities were forced to take urgent precautionary measures, including closing schools in the capital, Athens, and several other regions to ensure the safety of students. The Civil Protection Agency also issued strong warnings to residents to avoid any unnecessary travel until the storm subsides.
On the political front, the bad weather cast a shadow over the government's agenda, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the postponement of his planned trip to the Swiss resort of Davos to attend the World Economic Forum, preferring to stay in the country to monitor weather developments and coordinate emergency response efforts.
A record of natural disasters and climate challenges
This incident brings to mind a series of natural disasters that have struck Greece in recent years, raising questions about the impact of climate change on the Mediterranean region. In September 2023, the Thessaly region in central Greece experienced a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe due to Storm Daniel, which caused unprecedented flooding, leaving 15 dead and widespread destruction of infrastructure and crops—an event whose repercussions are still felt today.
Going back a little further, specifically to November 2017, the Mandra area near Athens experienced a similar tragedy, as heavy rains and flash floods resulted in the death of 16 people and dozens of injuries, in one of the worst disasters to hit the capital and its suburbs.
Observers believe that the recurrence of these extreme weather phenomena, from devastating forest fires in the summer to deadly storms and floods in the winter, puts Greece at the forefront of countries affected by the global climate crisis, which calls for strengthening infrastructure and early warning systems to avoid further human and material losses in the future.
