ATHENS: Flash floods caused by heavy rains have hit northwestern Greece and southern Albania, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of villagers on Sunday and destroying a famous 18th-century stone bridge.

No casualties were reported in either country. Heavy rains began on Saturday in the northwestern Greek province of Epirus, prompting authorities to evacuate four villages and several isolated farmhouses close to the city of Arta.

By Sunday, at least four rivers had overflowed their banks, three of them near Arta and another closer to Greece’s border with Albania.

The Plaka Bridge near Arta also collapsed. “The greatest problems are in the Arta area. But we have floods throughout Epirus, and problems from high winds and some flooding throughout Greece”, a fire brigade spokeswoman said.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2015

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