Nine months after the storm front “Daniel” ravaged central Greece, causing massive flooding in the Thessaly province, as parts of the Thessaly plain – Greece’s “bread basket” – remain under murky waters. The issue is particularly pronounced around Lake Karla, in eastern Thessaly, where an estimated 480,000 acres of surrounding land is still submerged.
Flooding began on Sept. 6, 2023 in the area, with approximately 440,000 acres of land having been inundated two days later. The flooded areas reached their peak 10 days later, covering an area of approximately 760,000 acres.
For comparison, Lake Karla occupied an area of approximately 142,800 acres a month before the storm.
To make matters worse, as a result of the stagnant waters, swarms of mosquitoes and midges – insects which thrive in such conditions – are now plaguing afflicted areas.
The National Observatory of Athens released satellite data in March showing images of the Thessaly province before and after the storm, showing the changing size of the flooded areas around Lake Karla.
The specific storm dumped record-breaking rainfall on Thessaly’s Magnesia prefecture and the Sporades isles, among others. Several low-lying villages were declared as uninhabitable, while massive crop damages and polluted ground reserves were the most negative outcomes.
