GREEK emergency services today were trying to rescue potentially dozens of people from villages in a central region that has seen more rain in 24 hours than it normally sees in a year.

Fierce storms battered Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria earlier this week, following a period of extreme heat and devastating wildfires.

A “large-scale” operation was underway to reach villages near Karditsa town, where the water level had risen between 1.5m and 2m, fire service spokesman Yannis Artopios told public TV broadcaster Ert.

“It’s very difficult to reach them,” he said.

The mayor of Palamas, where Karditsa is located, told private TV channel Skai villagers were stuck in their homes “without any form of assistance”.

The channel showed footage of houses underwater.

At least 14 people have been killed by the downpours in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria.

Interior Minister Niki Kerameus said authorities were starting to evaluate the damage from the storm and floods.

Local residents, farmers and businesses would be compensated, he told Skai today. – AFP, September 7, 2023.