Greek firefighter dies in rescue operation during floods

A Greek fireman lost his life on Monday during a rescue operation for schoolchildren and teachers stranded by flooding in the Evros region in northern Greece, reported Xinhua, quoting the Hellenic Fire Service.

Ioannis Zafeiropoulos, 46, was driving a vehicle that was swept away by floodwaters on the outskirts of the city of Alexandroupolis, according to an e-mailed press release.

More than 100 children and their teachers stranded in a kindergarten and a primary school were eventually transferred to safety.

Roads had turned into rivers in many settlements in the area following torrential rains.

A cold front has been sweeping Greece since Sunday. Northern Greece is the worst affected region, according to the Greek national news agency AMNA.