STORMS: More than 100 helicopters stationed at the base in Stefanovikio are safe

Most of the more than 100 military helicopters of the Army Air Force based at the base in Stefanovikio, Volos, which was affected by the Daniel storm, are safe, as they are all currently stationed at other bases, a senior military source told Proto Thema.

The images of the Huey helicopters (UH-1H Iroquois) of the 1st Army Aviation Brigade in the waters – a result of the bad weather that had hit the area – had made the rounds on the internet with unfavourable comments about the Armed Forces.

Stefanovikio was home to the largest number of attack, transport and other helicopters of the Army Air Forces, with a total number of between 100 and 150 helicopters (Apache, Kiowa and Huey).

Concerning the damages caused to some of the helicopters, the same military sources attempt to entertain the impression that very expensive helicopters worth tens of millions of euros bought from the backlog of the Greek people may have suffered irreparable damage.

According to the Army General Staff, all the helicopters have been transferred and are re-stationing to other bases and safe, while some others are at 304 PEV (Advanced Base Plant).

The General Staff of the Army points out that all operational helicopters remain operational, while the waters did not damage a number that were under maintenance.

And this is because – as they claim – in the helicopters that were under maintenance, mechanical parts had been removed from the main body and were located in places where the water did not reach.

Up to 5 meters of water reached several hangars with helicopters

However, the same top sources admitted that in some hangars, the height of the water reached up to 5 meters, denying some reports that the removal of helicopters inside them was done by… divers who entered the hangars-pools and placed large balloons with which the helicopters were lifted above the surface of the water.

This scenario suits a movie since simpler methods were used to remove the helicopters in the specific hangars.

The helicopters found in vast bodies of water have not officially clarified whether they have only decommissioned Huey – UH-1H Iroquois – or operational Apache attack helicopters, a possibility that no one would like to consider.

In any case, what was emphasised, is firstly that it is being investigated who took the photos and leaked them and secondly if mistakes and omissions were made in terms of preventing the incident as such.

If the people in charge of the base in Stefanovikio had taken all the measures, we would not have these flooding phenomena. Then, despite all the efforts that the waters were rising, they did not remove the helicopters in time to protect the property of the Greek taxpayers.

Evia smashed by Elias storm

Meanwhile, the island of Evia was severely affected on Wednesday by the ‘Elias’ adverse weather front, with Climate Crisis & Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias visiting the region to help coordinate efforts to contain the impact.

The island’s main road axis, which connects the island’s south and north, has been blocked by a landslide at Derveni in the north, while trees that fell on power lines caused power cuts and water supply problems in several areas.

Fifty firefighters with twenty-eight fire engines alongside personnel from two forest operations units (EMODE) along with one emergency rescue team (EMAK) unit have been facilitating the rescuing of people who were trapped, or helping with the pumping of flood waters.

More landslides were also reported at the villages of Istiea and Pefki, in north Evia, where people were trapped by torrential rainwaters. Minister Kikilias traveled to Evia by ship from the town of Glifa, in the Fthiotida region of central Greece, where he was overseeing operations at the two villages. At Pefki, Kikilias met with regional and local government officials. He then departed for Rovies, where he inspected the situation with the raging torrents in the town and spoke with residents who said the four streams crossing the town had caused severe structural damages after overflowing.

A meteorological station at Istiea registered more than 230,000 cubic meters of water per 0.1 hectare (1 stremma) since Wednesday morning. In the village of Mantoudi, water in the streets is over a meter deep, while dangerous debris was carried down into the area from the mountains.

At Psachna village, torrents also endangered residents.

The ‘Elias’ weather front is intense throughout the entire Central Greece Region, with phenomena in Evia being relentlessly intense, Regional Governor Fanis Spanos AMNA.

Meanwhile, the Sperchios River on the mainland across from Evia began to overflow at the Frantzi area, flooding a large agricultural area, forcing police to shut down traffic on the road from Lamia. Residents at the village of Komma are reportedly on standby to evacuate their homes if the river waters rise further as of last night, when a 112 emergency message was sent out to them.