Authorities in north-eastern Greece have once again placed the Evros regional unit under a "Red Code" civil protection alert, warning of a high risk of further flooding as the Evros river continues to swell and overflow.
The decision, announced by the Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, applies from Tuesday, 24 February 2026, through to Friday, 27 February 2026. It follows an assessment by the Risk Evaluation Committee and the regional governor, who warned that rising water levels and ongoing river overflows could trigger additional flood events.
According to the latest figures, around 15,000 hectares (150 square kilometres) of land across the region are now underwater, more than doubling earlier estimates. Large areas of farmland have been submerged, compounding losses for local producers already hit by repeated extreme weather in recent years. Officials have described the next 36 hours as critical, as water volumes remain high and pressure on embankments continues.
Floods swamp vast areas of farmland along Greece's Evros river as embankments fail
Under the "Red Code" mobilisation, municipal and regional authorities have been instructed to convene the Local and Regional Operational Civil Protection Coordination Bodies to streamline decision-making, deploy resources and enable rapid intervention if conditions deteriorate further.
The Evros river, which forms part of the natural border between Greece and Turkey, is one of south-eastern Europe's most sensitive cross-border basins. Flooding in the area frequently has transnational implications, with upstream rainfall and snowmelt affecting communities on both sides of the border. Recent days have already seen extensive flooding in riverine areas, with emergency services working to protect settlements and critical infrastructure.
Photo: AMNA
