Six people are dead and dozens more injured after a short but intense storm flipped cars and destroyed buildings in northern Greece.
Panic reigned in the Halkidiki region of Greece late Wednesday as the storm, complete with fierce winds and hail, made landfall along beaches popular with tourists. Haris Lazaridis, owner of a local tavern where two people were killed, described the scene to AFP.
“There was panic, people were howling and running to hide inside,” Lazaridis said. “For five minutes it was hellish.”
Heavy storms and hailstorms killed 6 people, mainly tourists (2 Czech, 2 Romanian, 1 Russian) at Greek island #Chalkidiki. About 100 people are injured #Greece #Weather #Storm #ClimateEmergency pic.twitter.com/RCWjUxjKg3
— Marco M.M. (@meteorologo777) July 11, 2019
A government spokesman said winds clocked in at around 62 mph, but only lasted for a terrifying 20 minutes. A total of 23 people are still hospitalized after the event and officials have declared a state of emergency for the region, with at least 140 rescue workers involved in the operation.
“I want to express my sorrow on behalf of all … We mourn for the loss of these souls,” Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrisochoidis said. “We are in solidarity with their relatives, with the people who have lost their families.”
At least 6 people have died and 65 injured after a storm struck Halkidiki, Greece.
The high winds toppled trees, cut power and overturned vehicles pic.twitter.com/yOkLZwHCqQ
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) July 11, 2019
#halkidiki #neaplagia everyone’s working super hard to get things back to normal pic.twitter.com/z0BX8jj3yp
— soph (@saysophcanfly) July 11, 2019
