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Two drown after Greek storms capsize yacht: coastguard
ATHENS, Nov 25, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The bodies of two men were recovered near
the western coast of Greece Monday after their yacht sank in storms that also
caused flooding and landslides, the coastguard said.
The yacht, capsized and sank in the port of Antirion, near the city of
Patras, a senior coastguard official told AFP. Antirion lies 200 kilometres
(125 miles) west of Athens.
The official was not able to confirm media reports that the two victims
were tourists.
Flooding and landslides at Kinetta, a seaside town 50 kilometres (30
miles) south of Athens, closed rail and road links linking the capital to the
Peloponnesian peninsula in the southwest.
Workers were working Monday to clear the mud, stones and fallen trees the
storm left in its wake. A fire destroyed much of the vegetation at Kinetta in
2018, making it more susceptible to landslides.
Strong winds also caused the cancellation of some ferry services linking
the Cyclades islands from the ports of Rafina and Lavrion in the east, and
closed some ports in the northeast.
Dozens of houses were flooded and the emergency services said they had to
evacuate some residents.
Flooding in the Attica region around Athens has become more frequent in
recent years because of deforestation caused by wildfires.
In November 2017, a mudslide caused by heavy rains killed 23 people at
Mandra, 50 kilometres west of the capital.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1804 hrs