Europe floods – live: 13 killed as extreme weather hits Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria

Flash foods in parts of Europe kill at least 13 people

Flood water gushes down Skiathos road as intense rain hits Greece

At least 13 people are confirmed to have died after severe rainstorms hit parts of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria - with more bodies being discovered on Wednesday afternoon.

Hundreds of British tourists are said to be stranded at destinations following the storms which have led to cars being swept away and streets submerged by rainfall.

In Greece, a record rainfall caused at least two deaths near the central city of Volos and three people were reported missing. The fire department said one man was killed when a wall buckled and fell on him, and the body of a woman was discovered on Wednesday.

One stranded tourist said the centre of Greek destination Skiathos is “underwater” and described the situation as “horrendously scary”.

In Bulgaria, a storm caused floods on the country's southern Black Sea coast and on Wednesday the body of a missing tourist was recovered.

It comes as the World Meteorological Organisation said that the northern hemisphere experienced its hottest summer on record, fuelled by climate change.

Key Points

• Nine dead in flash floods across Europe
• Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria affected
• British tourists ‘trapped’ in Greek holiday island Skiathos

[6 September 2023 18:01 · William Mata]

Thirteen people reported to have died across Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria

The death toll from severe rainstorms in Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria has increased to 13 after rescue teams in the three neighbouring countries recovered six more bodies.

A flash flood at a campsite in north-western Turkey near the border with Bulgaria killed at least five people, with three found dead on Wednesday, and carried away bungalow homes.

Rescuers were still searching for one person reported missing at the campsite.

[6 September 2023 18:22 · Katy Clifton]

We are pausing our live coverage for the evening but you can read more on the storms battering Europe here.

[6 September 2023 17:02 · William Mata]

Brazil flooding - now 31 deaths

There have also been 31 deaths associated with flooding in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul state which follow on from landslides and flooding in Sao Paulo which killed 50 earlier this year.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday he had spoken to Rio Grande do Sul Governor Eduardo Leite to offer the federal government's full support for the state to "face this crisis”.

Weather forecaster Climatempo said that even though showers had stopped on Tuesday, they were expected to return to Rio Grande do Sul on Wednesday and Thursday before dissipating by Sunday, with the state still on alert for floods.

Aerial view of the area affected by an extratropical cyclone in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil (AGENCIA RBS/AFP via Getty Images)

[6 September 2023 16:18 · William Mata]

Photos: Impact of flooding in Greece and Turkey

A vehicle crosses a flooded road in the city of Volos, central Greece (AFP via Getty Images)

Cars in a flooded road in the city of Volos, central Greece (AFP via Getty Images)

Firefighters use ropes to lift a kidney patient in a stretcher across a road damaged by a rainstorm in Kala Nera village, near Volos (AP)

Engineers inspect a damaged bridge, which connects the city of Burgas and the Turkish border (AFP via Getty Images)

[6 September 2023 16:07 · William Mata]

Turkey: Two dead and 31 injured in northern Istanbul

Two people have died and at least 31 are injured in Istanbul's northern Basaksehir and Kucukcekmece districts after flash flooding.

Cars have been seen floating in the waters after 125 kilograms of rain per square metre hit Istanbul in less than six hours

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said search and rescue operations were continuing and pledged financial support to families in flood-affected areas.

(AP)

[6 September 2023 15:56 · William Mata]

Summer 2023 one of the hottest on record - scientists say

The summer of 2023 was the hottest on record, according to data from the European Union Climate Change Service released on Wednesday.

The three-month period from June through August surpassed previous records by a large margin, with an average temperature of 16.8 C - 0.66C above average.

Last month was the also the hottest August on record globally, the third straight month in a row to set such a record following the hottest ever June and July, the EU said on Wednesday.

The weather has been hot in Europe this summer (AFP via Getty Images)

[6 September 2023 15:33 · William Mata]

Death toll now 12 as extra bodies recovered in Turkey

The death toll from severe rainstorms that have lashed parts of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria has increased to 12 after rescue teams in the three neighbouring countries recovered five more bodies.

A flash flood at a campsite in north-western Turkey near the border with Bulgaria killed at least five people - with three found dead on Wednesday - and carried away bungalow homes.

They had reported earlier on Wednesday that four more bodies had been found to bring the total to 11 and that they were searching for two more bodies. They are now seeking only one more.

Workers clean a water drain on the aftermath of floods caused by heavy rains in Istanbul (AP)

[6 September 2023 15:13 · William Mata]

Latest victims identified from Istanbul

Two victims to have been idenfied in the Istanbul tragedy.

They include a 32-year-old Guinean citizen who was trapped inside his basement apartment in the low-income Kucukcekmece district, Turkish broadcaster HaberTurk TV reported.

The other was a 57-year-old woman who died after being swept away by the floods in another neighbourhood, the private DHA news agency reported.

The surging flood waters affected more than 1,750 homes and businesses in the city, according to the Istanbul governor’s office. (AP)

[6 September 2023 15:04 · William Mata]

Death toll reaches 11 - update

The death toll from severe rainstorms that have lashed parts of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria has increased to 11.

Four more bodies have been recovered after a flash flood at a campsite in north-western Turkey near the border with Bulgaria.

Two were found dead on Wednesday and carried away bungalow homes with rescuers still looking for two more people.

Another two people died in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, where Tuesday’s storms inundated hundreds of homes and workplaces in several neighbourhoods.

Emergency team members rescue a young girl during floods in a campsite in Kirklareli province, Turkey (AP)

[6 September 2023 14:49 · William Mata]

Storm causes floods of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast

In Bulgaria, a storm caused floods on the country’s southern Black Sea coast.

The body of a missing tourist was recovered from the sea on Wednesday, raising the overall death toll to three. Border police vessels and drones were assisting efforts to locate another two people still listed as missing.

TV footage showed cars and camper vans being swept out to sea in the southern resort town of Tsarevo, where authorities declared a state of emergency.

Most of the rivers in the region burst their banks and several bridges were destroyed, causing serious traffic problems.

Tourism minister Zaritsa Dinkova said about 4,000 people were affected by the disaster along the entire southern stretch of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast.

“There is a problem transporting tourists because it is dangerous to go by coach on the roads affected by the floods,” she added.

People try to pull out a car submerged in the sea at Arapia camping site near Tsarevo along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast (AFP via Getty Images)