Nearly Three Years After Storm Daniel, Locals Still Cross Buckled Paleopyrgos Bridge Near Larissa

Farmers and residents in the villages surrounding Larissa in central Greece continue to use the Paleopyrgos bridge over the Pineios River even though floodwaters buckled it during Storm Daniel in September 2023. Officials officially banned traffic, but the span was never repaired and nothing physically prevents people — including tractor drivers — from driving across a sagging centre section that sits close to the water.

Why Locals Keep Using the Bridge

With the bridge out of commission, the only practical alternative is to follow the national highway, a detour local reports estimate at roughly 15–25 miles compared with a crossing that used to be only a few miles. For farmers hauling equipment or travelling between neighboring villages, that extra distance means more time, higher fuel costs and lost working hours — so many choose the risky shortcut instead.

What the Damage Looks Like

Unlike some spans that were swept away, the Paleopyrgos bridge’s central section dropped and now rests near the river while remaining attached at both ends. Drone footage published by LarissaNet shows vehicles descending into the sag and climbing back up the far side. Residents say they are fully aware of the bridge’s condition and accept the risk in order to save time and money.

“The road network will be rebuilt better than before,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said during a visit to Thessaly, as authorities pledged reconstruction after the twin storms.

Wider Context: Storm Daniel And Its Aftermath

Storm Daniel, which hit in September 2023, dumped months’ worth of rain onto the fertile Thessaly plain in a matter of hours, creating an inland sea. Seventeen people died, crops were destroyed, tens of thousands of animals drowned, and hundreds of residents were rescued by air or boat. The storms destroyed or severely damaged infrastructure across the region, with local reporting documenting 79 bridges affected in Thessaly.

By April 2024, Prime Minister Mitsotakis put the cost of repairs at more than €3 billion, according to Agence France-Presse. A prosecutor also opened an investigation into what caused the flooding and how authorities responded.

Unfinished Promises And Ongoing Risks

Residents told reporters in June that promised restoration work had not begun. They also warn the damaged span could become a hazard in a future flood because it now sits directly in the river’s path. Another nearby bridge, largely swept away by the same storm, remains unrepaired as well.

Tourists and visitors add another element of danger: navigation systems reportedly continue to route drivers to the severed connection, and there are no physical barriers or personnel enforcing the traffic ban — only a sign. Given the practical pressures on locals and the lack of physical closures, there is little indication that use of the bridge will stop soon, even as engineers and officials plan long-term reconstruction.

Sources: Local outlets including LarissaNet, The Drive and GreekReporter; Agence France-Presse reporting on government recovery estimates.