Severe storm hits Drama, Greece: 41 emergency calls as fallen trees and floods trap drivers
A sudden severe storm struck the city of Drama in northern Greece on the night of 20 July 2026, bringing torrential rain and gale-force winds that uprooted trees, downed power poles, and turned streets into torrents.
Storm strikes amid heatwave
While much of Greece was gripped by a heatwave, a violent storm system hit the northern city of Drama on the evening of Monday, 20 July 2026. The weather event was preceded by intense lightning activity before unleashing a sudden downpour accompanied by strong winds. The abrupt change in conditions caught residents off guard, with some describing scenes reminiscent of a hurricane passing through the city.
Immediate impact on the ground
The sheer volume of water falling in a short period transformed central roads and side streets into raging streams. Several drivers became trapped in their vehicles on flooded roads, with multiple cars left immobilized. The gale-force winds uprooted trees and brought down electricity poles, causing further traffic obstructions and material damage across the city and its outskirts.
- Intense lightning activity precedes the storm; sudden downpour and gale-force winds begin.
- Fire service logs 21 calls for tree-cutting and 2 calls for object removal; 10 firefighters with 5 vehicles deployed.
- Total calls rise to 41; operations record 22 tree cuttings and 6 object removals.
Emergency response
Fire service units in Drama were placed on high alert as calls for assistance poured in. The Regional Operations Centre of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace received a total of 41 calls between Monday night and Tuesday morning, 21 July 2026, related to the extreme weather. The operations carried out by firefighting forces included 22 tree-cutting incidents and 6 removals of objects swept away by the winds.
A total of 41 calls were received due to the intense weather phenomena that occurred in the city of Drama and surrounding areas from last night until this morning.
Deployment of forces
Initial reports from the fire service, logged shortly after midnight, recorded 21 calls for tree-cutting and 2 calls for object removal. A team of 10 firefighters with 5 vehicles from the Drama Fire Service was deployed to clear roads and remove hazards to ensure public safety. The operation continued through the night as crews worked to restore safe passage.
Aftermath and ongoing risks
By the morning of 21 July, the full extent of the damage was becoming clear. The combination of fallen trees and power poles created widespread obstacles, while the flooded road network left a trail of immobilized vehicles. No casualties have been reported in the available sources, but the event underscores the volatile weather pattern affecting Greece, where a heatwave in one half of the country coincided with a destructive storm in the other.
