Storm Daniel: A Cautionary Tale On The Need To Maintain Infrastructure Before It's Too Late

Storms are not constrained by national boundaries, and as they demonstrate their relentless force, they often leave a lasting mark over the regions they traverse.

A low-pressure storm

On September 4, a low-pressure system formed in the Black Sea, initially impacting Bulgaria before moving on to Greece and Türkiye. The system unleashed torrential rain over the island of Skiathos and the central highlands of Thessaly. In Zagora 1,092mm fell in less than 24 hours, 138% of average annual rainfall for this region. Consequently, critical infrastructure, including main road and rail networks connecting Athens and Thessaloniki, were severely disrupted. The agricultural sector also suffered significant losses, with extensive damage to crops and land due to deposition and erosion, requiring years for recovery.