Evros nears flood level, but danger is receding
The rain-swollen Evros River in Thrace came close to breaking its banks yesterday, but the immediate threat of widespread flooding in the area appeared to have receded. The muddy waters crept up to 15 centimeters from the point of overflow above the earthen dykes lining the river. On Monday, one of the dykes failed to hold, causing 100 hectares of land to be flooded. No one was injured, as authorities had issued a warning after heavy rain on Saturday to farmers, fishermen and troops on the Greek side of the Evros – which forms a natural border with Turkey – to keep away from the river. «This is an exceptional state of affairs,» Evros prefect Nikos Zambounidis said. Although things had reached a better state late yesterday, local residents expressed fears that snow melted by warmer weather could make the river rise anew.
