Ormenio, Greece saved by flooding thanks to last-minute levee

The construction of a kilometer long levee resulted in saving the village of Ormenio in the northeast of Greece from the rising water of Evros River. The extreme weather conditions resulted in damaging extensive parts of the existing levees along the river and the extensive flooding of farming and residential land.

The water level in Evros River, in northern Greece, exceeded all records, damaging the existing levees in many locations along its route, including the levee at Ormenio, Thrace. The village was evacuated and was eventually rescued thanks to the coordinated efforts of municipality workers, locals, army, police and brigade forces, who managed to build a one-kilometer long levee in the outskirts of the village. About 100 homes were saved but most of the residential areas farms and businesses in the prefecture of Orestiada, Thrace are on alert throughout December as extreme weather conditions may persist. 

It is estimated that 100,000 acres of agricultural and residential land has been flooded and local farmers fear that thir crops will be entirely destroyed.