Mapping Flood Risks along Greece’s Kireas River

A new CLIMAAX-based flood risk assessment identifies Greece’s Kireas River basin as one of the most vulnerable areas in the Municipality of Mantoudi–Limni–Agia Anna, supporting evidence-based planning for stronger local resilience.

Mapping Flood Risks along Greece’s Kireas River

A new CLIMAAX-based flood risk assessment identifies Greece’s Kireas River basin as one of the most vulnerable areas in the Municipality of Mantoudi–Limni–Agia Anna, supporting evidence-based planning for stronger local resilience.

A new flood risk assessment conducted in the Municipality of Mantoudi–Limni–Agia Anna has identified the Kireas River basin as one of the most exposed areas to potential flooding. The analysis followed the CLIMAAX Handbook methodology, using standardized European datasets—JRC Global Flood Maps and Aqueduct Floods—to estimate hazard levels across 10-, 50-, and 100-year return periods.

Results show a progressive increase in flood extent and depth with rarer, more intense rainfall events, offering a harmonized view of river flood potential in the region. However, the study also notes that the model does not yet account for debris flows, which often intensify flash-flood impacts in the Kireas basin. While modeled patterns align with known flood-prone zones, experts recommend further refinement using local hydrological and topographic data to improve precision and support preparedness planning.

The Mayor of Mantoudi–Limni–Agia Anna, George Tsapourniotis, emphasized the importance of the initiative:

The analysis of flood risk in the Kireas River, carried out based on the methodology of the European CLIMAAX Handbook, confirms that the river area constitutes one of the most vulnerable zones of our Municipality to extreme weather events.
Our participation in the CLIMAAX program represents an important step toward strengthening our Municipality’s resilience against the impacts of the climate crisis and toward designing more robust infrastructure.
As the Municipal Authority, we will make full use of these scientific data and, through our cooperation with the competent bodies, we will seek the necessary support to ensure the effective protection of our citizens and our natural environment
.”

The findings provide a valuable foundation for evidence-based adaptation planning and reinforce local efforts under CLIMAAX to enhance resilience and safeguard communities from the growing risks of extreme weather in the Mediterranean.