West Attica relives the nightmare of 2017
Severe storms once again turned roads into rivers and neighborhoods into lagoons across Elefsina, Aspropyrgos, Mandra, Magoula, Megara, and Nea Peramos on Friday, reviving painful memories of the devastating 2017 floods in West Attica. While central Athens withstood the heavy rainfall, officials warn that urgent interventions are needed. Meanwhile, the Communist Party (KKE) criticized the state for displaying “excessive zeal” in suppressing protests while failing to respond effectively to natural disasters.
Flooding Across West Attica
West Attica awoke to scenes of chaos as torrential rains—exceeding 200 millimeters in just a few hours—caused extensive flooding and widespread damage to infrastructure.
Early Friday morning, two emergency alerts from 112 were sent to residents of Lakka Kalogirou and Almyres in the Municipality of Megara. Shortly after 9 a.m., another warning was issued to residents of the Ellinoroson–Pontiaka settlement in Elefsina due to fears of rising waters in the Sarantapotamos River.
Athens Narrowly Avoids Major Damage
Conditions were difficult in central Athens as well. The worst was avoided only because the intensity of the rainfall gradually diminished.
According to Municipality of Athens officials—who had placed all services on alert—the city endured the storm despite the fact that the stormwater drainage network covers only 20% of the urban area. In some neighborhoods, rainfall reached 45 millimeters per hour.
The municipality also warned of fake news, noting that certain videos circulating online showed severe flooding from past years, not from the current storm.
Political Reaction
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) issued a statement accusing the state of prioritizing the suppression of farmers’ protests over disaster preparedness.
“The state mechanism, which shows zeal in preventing farmers from blocking roads, collapses when the roads close because of its own inadequacies,” the statement said.
The party emphasized that anti-flood infrastructure has been chronically underfunded, leaving residents—especially in West Attica—living with the constant fear of catastrophic flooding.
