Tree Collapse In Thessaloniki During Storm, Driver Killed Inside Parked Vehicle, Winds Batter City

Thessaloniki, Greece— A large pine tree snapped at its base during tropical storm gusts in Thessaloniki at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday, crushing a parked sedan with a driver inside and killing him instantly on a seafront avenue.

The driver, a 52-year-old local resident, had pulled over near the White Tower promenade as winds intensified and was waiting out the storm with hazard lights on. Wind speeds at the port were recorded at 98 km/h at the time. The tree, about 18 meters tall, fell across the roof.

Witnesses said they heard a crack, then saw the trunk land squarely on the car. Bystanders tried to lift branches but the weight was too great. Fire crews used chainsaws and a crane to free the victim after 40 minutes. He was declared dead at the scene.

"He parked to avoid driving in wind. The tree went over like paper. We could not move it," said a kiosk owner who saw the collapse and called 112. He said the city had pruned trees along that stretch last winter but many remained diseased.

Thessaloniki was under a red wind warning Tuesday as a deep low-pressure system moved from the Ionian Sea. The storm uprooted more than 30 trees citywide, damaged scaffolding, and cut power to 4,000 households. Ferry services were suspended.

"The root plate was shallow. Soil was saturated from rain last week, then wind did the rest. We will check all trees on this avenue," a municipal arborist said at the site. The city ordered an immediate inspection of waterfront trees.

Emergency management closed the promenade and diverted traffic. The mayor’s office said it would review whether the avenue should have been closed earlier given the forecast. Opposition councilors criticized delayed pruning budgets.

Greece has seen more intense autumn storms in recent years, with warmer seas feeding stronger gusts. Urban forestry experts warn that many city pines are aging and vulnerable.

The victim’s family has been notified. The public prosecutor ordered an autopsy and a technical report on tree stability before deciding whether to open a negligence case against the municipality.

The storm is expected to ease overnight, but a second wave of strong winds is forecast for Thursday.