Abstract
The Disastrous Flash Flood of Mandra in Attica-Greece and now What?
Highlights
A flash flood (FF) is defined as a flood that follows shortly, i.e. within a few hours, after a heavy or excessive rainfall event [1]
The FF in Madra on the 15th of November 2017 verified the findings of Diakakis et al [3]; it was the third most disastrous ‘November’ flood in Attica following the floods of Western suburbs of Athens in 1961 (43 deaths) and 1977 (37 deaths), which occurred 11 years after the ‘warning flood’ (2 deaths) in the same area in January 1996
According to the Emergency Plan of Action Operations Update [4] issued by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) ‘The majority of the population was affected by the floods
Summary
The disaster was caused as a result of (i) the extremely small cross-sectional areas of the two main streams of Mandra due to various private and public constructions, and (ii) the inadequacy of the storm protection works. The flood wave, which was triggered by the extreme rainfall of a return period higher than 150-200 years, passed via the main roads of the town causing disastrous impacts that could have been reduced, if there was an Early Warning System (EWS) that could have activated a preparedness plan. The main actions that are proposed to avoid such disasters in the future are: (i) Construction of the required flood protection structural works in the town, and in the mountainous catchment area, and removal of all existing constructions that reduce the cross-sectional area of the streams.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
