Floods wiped out quarter of Greek farm produce: experts
Over 110,000 dead sheep, goats, pigs, cows and chickens
15 September, 12:20
(ANSA-AFP) - ATHENS, SEP 15 - A quarter of Greece's annual
agricultural production was wiped out in last week's deadly
flash floods triggered by Storm Daniel, which drenched the
central region of Thessaly, according to experts. The floods,
which killed 15 people, have also left thousands of people in
temporary shelters in hotels, schools or with relatives while 30
villages were inaccessible amid the threat of waterborne
diseases. Officials were trying to determine if a body found on
a beach in Pelion, central Greece, was that of an Austrian
missing with his wife since last week. As government officials
began the daunting task of mapping the damage dealt to the plain
that feeds much of Greece, one pressing need was to dispose of
tens of thousands of decomposing farm animals. Out of over
110,000 dead sheep, goats, pigs, cows and chickens reported lost
by farmers, fewer than half have been buried or incinerated,
officials said. Inspection crews were still unable to reach half
the areas with reported dead livestock, the agriculture ministry
said Wednesday. (ANSA-AFP).