Flood risks loom along Kifissos River
Local mayors along the Kifissos River in Athens have raised alarm about the potential for catastrophic flooding, with 250,000 residents and vital infrastructure at risk.
A recent National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) report highlights the southern stretch of the river as the most vulnerable, warning that the area is already at its limit for stormwater drainage.
At a meeting titled “Kifissos: Zero Hour,” organized by the Municipality of Nikaia-Rentis, officials discussed outdated urban infrastructure designed for milder climates. Nikaia-Rentis Mayor Konstantinos Maragkakis emphasized the need for new flood protection projects, citing increasing pollution and illegal industrial dumping into the river. He proposed turning riverside areas into recreational zones to better manage runoff.
The NTUA report identified critical infrastructure at risk in the flood zone, including 146 schools, 45 sports facilities and various medical and emergency services. Most of these are located in the municipalities of Piraeus, Athens, Nikaia-Rentis and Moschato-Tavros.
Mayors shared stories of long-delayed projects. Moschato-Tavros Mayor Andreas Efthymiou recalled a flood protection plan, first designed in 2007, that has faced endless delays. The project was abandoned by contractors due to increased costs, and new studies are now underway.
Peristeri Deputy Mayor of Public Works Panagiotis Adamakis echoed the concerns, stating that existing drainage infrastructure cannot handle more stormwater. His municipality proposed a rainwater drainage network that was rejected by the regional authority because the Kifissos is already overwhelmed.
Ilion Mayor Andriana Alevizou-Koukouvinou shared a striking example of bureaucratic failure. A €6 million pumping station built to manage floods has never been used or maintained, and was recently found looted.
In Nea Filadelfia, Mayor Yannis Tombouloglou expressed deep concerns over aging infrastructure along the Kifissos, citing structural risks to bridges and other critical areas. He stressed the need for flood control measures, rather than enclosing the river in concrete.
Officials from the regional government, including Deputy Governor Stavroula Antonakou, admitted that the river’s channels have been cleaned for the first time in years but said that without a holistic flood prevention plan from the national government, even a small increase in rainfall could lead to disaster.
