Death toll rises to four in Greece after floods, more than 800 rescued
Al JazeeraSep 08, 2023
The Facts
At least seven people have died and four others are missing after torrential rains inundated Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, causing significant flooding.
The storm dubbed storm "Daniel" has meandered slowly across southeast Europe, dumping excessive rain in a 24-hour period. The system is expected to move southwest over the Mediterranean, where heavy precipitation warnings are posted through Wednesday.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
While climate change is impacting the whole world, the Mediterranean is a hotspot because it's warming at a much faster rate. The impacts are evident in the increasing wildfires and extreme weather events. A series of bad planning decisions made by previous administrations is proving to be costly to Greek people in terms of the loss of life and property. The 13 regional governments of Greece must take the initiative and chart a direct and cohesive course correction if preparation and adaptation are to be achieved.
Pro-establishment narrative
Greece has been under fire for lagging behind in climate change action and they've now stepped up to the plate. Recognizing that previous governments have failed, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has taken drastic action to bring on a Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister, a rare role in the EU. Following several years of extreme weather events, it's the priority of the Greek government to understand climate science, mitigate impacts, and effectively respond to climate change-induced disasters.
