国际英语新闻:Feature: Greek PM pledges aid to flood-stricken island as residents count damages

POLITIKA, Greece, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday visited the flood-stricken Evia island in central Greece and pledged immediate state aid to people affected.

According to the latest official count, the death toll from weekend's flash floods in the Evia island -- the second-largest Greek island which is 100 km north of Athens -- has risen to eight.

"The State will stand by those affected by the flash floods, those who lost either their homes or their businesses," Mitsotakis said after touring the area, escorted by ministers and other officials.

Government officials pledged immediate financial support for the stricken areas. An emergency fund of 1.2 million euros (1.4 million U.S. dollars) will be allocated to the flood-stricken areas, the Interior Ministry announced.

Mitsotakis said that the uNPRecedented rainfall that hit the area in Evia in a few hours was as much as it rains in Athens in winter.

"We must learn to have more precise predictions because we will have more extreme phenomena," he added, citing climate change.

The strong storm turned roads into raging rivers of mud, flooded houses and businesses, and carried away cars along with tons of debris.

Residents were trying to clean up their homes and businesses, as crews with experts were assessing damages.

"We have damages on the ground floor and the outdoor space. Our two cars were ruined. It will take some time for the wounds to heal. The sad is that we lost our fellowmen, a baby among them," Giorgos Mahairas from Politika village told Xinhua.

The floods in Politika village was caused by a river bursting its banks and filling roads with tons of mud and debris. Villagers were still dealing with the cut-off of electricity and water supply.

"The rescue teams could not reach the area. The road network that connects our village with Psaxna village disappeared," he said.

"We were afraid that we were going to have more victims due to the intensity of the weather phenomena," Mahairas added.

Niki Varzvouzou, also from Politika, was trapped in her dry-cleaner's shop all night, trying to avoid the streamflow from the overflooded river.

"I locked the door, put rugs behind the door and I was emptying the water with a bucket from 4 a.m. until 8 a.m.," she told Xinhua.

"Locals are disappointed, with their spirits broken from the disaster," Dimitris Gkikas, president of the Politika village, told Xinhua. "The priority is the authorities to repair the damages caused by the flash floods."