Heavy rainfall stemming from storm Elena across Greece’s Attica region on Christmas and December 26th caused severe flooding, sewage overflows, road closures, and reignited debates over the region’s inadequate infrastructure to handle extreme weather.

Elena delivered the heaviest rainfall in Attica’s mountainous areas of Vilia and Penteli, far from the severe flooding experienced in the southern suburbs. The worst-hit areas included the port region of Piraeus and nearby Alimos.

Local Government vs. EYDAP

The Mayor of Alimos, a seaside suburb, sharply criticized the region’s Water and Sewerage Company (EYDAP), describing the situation as a “health hazard” and placing full responsibility on the company.

“At 10:30 PM on Christmas, a manhole cover blew off due to sewer overflow, flooding the road with untreated sewage. This is a decades-old problem that EYDAP continuously studies. I recently sent a letter to the president of EYDAP, warning that the situation is now critical. Last night, the road was closed for seven hours. This issue frequently recurs; the last incident was in August, causing another road closure,” the mayor stated.

EYDAP Denies Responsibility

EYDAP responded by denying accountability, arguing that it does not oversee stormwater management systems. Also, its response reveals more entrenched problems with Attica’s water management system.

In a statement, the company explained: “The sewer network becomes overloaded during heavy rainfall, causing the manhole to burst open in this area due to 7,000 illegal stormwater connections made by private parties from Varkiza to Alimos.”

The company announced that a long-term solution is in progress, with a study for constructing a new relief pipeline in the region set to be completed by the first quarter of 2025.

Widespread Impact of Elena

While the blame game persists, the tangible impact on the ground reveals extensive flooding of roads, homes, and businesses, leaving residents and commuters distraught.

A report by In.gr highlighted that a similar incident occurred in March 2024 in the same area, raising further questions about the adequacy of existing measures.