Greek authorities have placed parts of northern Greece on the highest level of civil protection alert ahead of severe weather expected to hit the country on Monday, raising concerns over flooding and dangerous conditions.
The General Secretariat for Civil Protection said it activated a “Red Code” mobilization following an emergency weather bulletin issued by the National Meteorological Service and a meeting of the Risk Assessment Committee.
Under the alert, the regional unit of Serres in Central Macedonia, as well as the regional units of Drama, Kavala, Thasos, Xanthi and Rodopi in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, were placed on full readiness for Monday.
The Red Code designation is the highest level of preparedness and is reserved for situations where significant risks to life and property are possible.
Authorities warned of a heightened threat of flooding and urged local governments to take immediate action to prepare for the storm.
Emergency coordination activated
As part of the alert, municipalities and regional authorities were instructed to immediately convene their Local and Regional Civil Protection Operational Coordination Bodies to review readiness plans and response measures.
Officials said the focus will be on flood prevention, rapid response capabilities and coordination among emergency services, as heavy rainfall and severe weather are forecast for the affected areas.
The move comes as Greece remains on heightened alert following recent storms that caused flooding and damage in several regions, underscoring ongoing concerns about extreme weather events and their impact on infrastructure and public safety.
Civil protection officials urged residents in the affected areas to follow official guidance, limit unnecessary travel during severe weather and remain alert to further updates.