Greece announces flood relief package, death toll reaches 15

Greece announces flood relief package, death toll reaches 15 Athens: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced the first relief package for flood victims, national broadcaster ERT reported. So far 15 people have died due to the flood. “The state stands by to help the people without any delay,” Xinhua news agency quoted Mitsotakis as saying on Sunday during his second visit to the flood-hit Thessaly region in three days. “Procedures to support households and businesses will begin from Monday and those whose homes, farms and fields have been affected by flooding will be given financial assistance to meet their immediate needs,” he said. He said further compensation and funding would be provided to restore their properties and rebuild destroyed infrastructure. Hurricane “Daniel” struck Greece for two days, starting on September 4. The flood waters started receding on the evening of 7 September. Greek national news agency AMNA reported on Sunday that entire villages in some areas could only be reached by boats and helicopters, and dozens of people were delivered food, water and medicine by drone. The fire brigade said on Sunday evening that a total of 4,486 people have been evacuated safely since September 5. A large part of the farmland of the Thessaly plain, a major agricultural production area for Greece, was also washed away. According to experts and local growers, it will take up to five years to return to normal conditions and grow produce again in fertile soils.