The unprecedented downpour that struck Mani with such ferocity was ten times heavier than the average rainfall in Sparta in August, yesterday, on the Feast of the Assumption.

According to the weather service, 141 millimeters of rain fell in just four hours, turning roads into dangerous torrents, trapping residents in their cars amid the raging waters, and a woman was struck by lightning and taken to the hospital.

According to the weather service, the thunderstorms that caused the rainfall were particularly intense and accompanied by a large number of lightning strikes. More than 2,000 lightning strikes were recorded from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with about half occurring between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., a period during which the heaviest rainfall (68 millimeters) also occurred.

In fact, using appropriate algorithms, it was calculated that the cloud tops exceeded 13 to 14 kilometers in height.

“An unprecedented situation”

It should be noted that Mani’s Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection, George Exarchakos, referring to the floods caused by the heavy downpour, stated: “This is an unprecedented situation for our region,” and added: “The communities of Nymfi, Exonymfi, Kokala, and Lagia have been affected. There are reports of significant damage to homes and, above all, to the road network, which has been destroyed in certain areas. Fortunately, no one was in danger.”

Damage is also reported in Oitylo, Karavostasi, and Alypa, where most of the problems caused by the torrential rain in Eastern Mani have been identified, according to Deputy Mayor Georgia Lyrofoni. As she told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), “cars have been swept out to sea, and there has been significant damage to the road network, both to the road surface and to bridges.”

Ms. Lyrofonis also noted that “several people have requested to be evacuated from the affected areas, and arrangements have been made to house them in the closed gymnasium in Areopolis.”

Woman Struck by Lightning Admitted to Hospital

In a post on X, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, reported that a woman was struck by lightning while in her car and, after a major rescue effort, was extricated and transported to Sparta Hospital.

“Despite the torrential rains affecting Mani and the enormous problems they’ve caused on the road network there, the National Health System is on full alert and things are proceeding smoothly. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our medical staff and especially to the exceptional physician Dr. Anargyros Mariolis, because through tremendous personal effort, they rescued and transported to the Sparta Hospital a woman who was seriously injured by a lightning strike in Oitylo, Mani, while inside her car. “Everything will be fine,” wrote the Minister of Health.

Trapped in Cars – Homes Flooded

Starting at 4:30 p.m. yesterday, the Fire Department received more than 50 calls for assistance.

Traffic was blocked at many points along the region’s road network due to debris.

As Ms. Lyrofoni stated, heavy equipment is expected to begin restoration work, followed by a full assessment of the damage in the area.

Source: cnn.gr