Attachments
A. Situation analysis
Description of the disaster
Since Wednesday, 15 November 2017, floods have been reported in the town of Mandra, Megara and Nea Peramos, which are all towns in the West Attica region of Greece (approx. 30 min drive from Athens).
Mandra – a town of 13,5001 inhabitants – was the most severely affected. In Mandra, at around 6 a.m., a wave of water suddenly rushed through the city, killing people, carrying away hundreds of cars, and devastating houses and property.
The majority of the population has been affected by the floods. The most immediate impact is the loss of life. As of 22 November, 21 deaths have been reported, and 24 injured. Secondly, basements and ground floors of buildings in the city were also seriously impacted; officials estimated 80 per cent of the city area had been affected, except for some located on the hills.
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, out of 544 surveyed, 428 buildings are damaged and need restorations (specifically 319 houses, 62 business spaces, 1 public building and 46 warehouses and basements). The water coursed especially through some of the main streets, also laying waste to all the store- and business-fronts in its path.
Watermarks were visible at anywhere from 1 to 2.5 metres in height. Some houses were totally, others were partially destroyed. Basements remained flooded on Saturday 18 November, and all personal items, from clothes to household appliances were destroyed. As of 22 November, water system was restored, though it still was not suitable for drinking.
Access to telecommunication and electricity has been mostly restored as of the time of writing. According to the Hellenic Red Cross (HRC) Samaritan volunteers, some 100 vehicles that had been crushed, had been towed away.
The heating system for most people depended on boilers in the basements, which have been destroyed. With the rains forecasted, and the upcoming winter, this remains a major concern.
Lastly, the psychological impact is also substantial. The volunteers who conducted the survey for the assessment ended up providing psychological first aid to many of the people who were traumatized by the floods.
Approximately 40 people have been hosted in a hotel in the nearby town of Elefsina while the majority of the affected people are currently staying with relatives living in the town (presumably whose homes are unaffected or minimally affected) or in Athens. Many people are also preferring to stay in their destroyed homes as incidents of looting have been reported, according to the field team.
There are currently needs related to food, psychosocial support, household appliances, cleaning of the debris and mud from businesses and houses, clothes, medicines, money and potable water.
The government has stated that indemnifications in the form of EUR 5,000 for households and EUR 8,000 for businesses will be given soon to the affected population, though the timeline remains uncertain.