SIX TOURISTS HAVE been killed by tornadoes and violent hailstorms in northern Greece.

Dozens of other people have been injured after strong winds hit the region of Halkidiki, near the city of Thessaloniki, according to police. 

“Six tourists were killed and at least 30 people were injured during this cyclone,” the head of civil protection in northern Greece said.

 The freak storm only lasted about 20 minutes, according to witnesses interviewed by state television ERT.

Television footage showed overturned cars, fallen trees, torn roofs and mudslides.

Deaths

A Czech couple died after strong winds blew their caravan away while a Russian man and his son were killed by a falling tree, police said.

Debris from a building killed a woman from Romania and her child.

According to port police, a fisherman in his 60s was also missing.

“It was an unprecedented phenomenon” with very strong winds, tornadoes and violent hailstorms, the civil protection chief said.

He added that Halkidiki had declared a state of emergency.

At least 140 rescue workers have been involved in the operation, an emergency chief said.

The minister for citizen protection Michalis Chryssohoidis will visit the site this morning.

The storms came after temperatures in Greece soared to 37 degrees over the past two days.

Includes reporting by - © AFP 2019

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More