Six tourists killed and more than 30 injured after storms hit Greece

A picture taken shows broken trees fallen on cars after a storm in Nea Plagia, in Chalkidiki, Northern Greece. Tornadoes and violent hailstorms killed six tourists in northern Greece. AFP

A damaged car after heavy storms hit Sozopolis, Chalkidiki, northern Greece. Six foreign nationals, including two children, were killed after extreme weather conditions that struck Chalkidiki late night of 10 July 2019. EPA

A man repairs damage after heavy storms hit Sozopolis, Chalkidiki, northern Greece. Six foreign nationals, including two children, were killed after extreme weather conditions that struck Chalkidiki late night of 10 July 2019. EPA

A fireman cuts a tree that strong winds swept away in Sozopolis, Chalkidiki, northern Greece. Six foreign nationals, including two children, were killed after extreme weather conditions that struck Chalkidiki late night of 10 July 2019. EPA

A farmer inspects a damaged greenhouse that strong winds swept away in Sozopolis, Chalkidiki, northern Greece. Six foreign nationals, including two children, were killed after extreme weather conditions that struck Chalkidiki late night of 10 July 2019. EPA

Two employees pull chairs and umbrellas that strong winds and water swept away in Sozopolis, Chalkidiki, northern Greece. Six foreign nationals, including two children, were killed after extreme weather conditions that struck Chalkidiki late night of 10 July 2019. EPA

A picture taken shows the tavern where a woman from Romania and her child died when the roof caved in after a storm in Nea Plagia, in Chalkidiki, Northern Greece. Tornadoes and violent hailstorms killed six tourists in northern Greece. AFP

A picture taken shows damaged umbrellas and lounge chairs on a beach after a storm in Nea Plagia, in Chalkidiki, Northern Greece. Tornadoes and violent hailstorms killed six tourists in northern Greece. AFP

A police officer cordons off motorcycles and the damaged caravan of two elderly Czech tourists who were killed when strong winds and water swept away vehicle, in Sozopolis, Chalkidiki, northern Greece. EPA

Two women rummage through rubbles of a destroyed beach bar in Nea Plagia, in Chalkidiki, Northern Greece. AFP

Two men search in debris after a storm at Nea Plagia village in Halkidiki region, northern Greece. A powerful storm hit the northern Halkidiki region late Wednesday, toppling trees and power pylons, cutting power and blocking roads. AP

A man rides a bicycle among debris after a storm at Nea Plagia village in Halkidiki region, northern Greece. A powerful storm hit the northern Halkidiki region late Wednesday. AP

Tornadoes and violent hailstorms killed six tourists in northern Greece on Wednesday.

Dozens more were injured when strong winds hit the region of Halkidiki, near the city of Thessaloniki.

Television footage showed overturned cars, fallen trees, torn roofs and mudslides.

"Six tourists were killed and at least 30 people were injured during this cyclone," Charalambos Steriadis, head of civil protection in northern Greece, said.

The freak storm only lasted about 20 minutes, according to witnesses interviewed by state television ERT.

A Czech couple died when strong winds blew their caravan away while a Russian man and his son were killed by a falling tree, police said.

Debris from a building killed a woman from Romania and her child.

According to port police, a fisherman in his sixties was also missing.

"It was an unprecedented phenomenon," very strong winds, tornadoes and violent hailstorms, Steriadis said, adding that Halkidiki had declared a state of emergency.

At least 140 rescue workers were involved in the operation, emergency chief Vassilis Varthakoyannis said.

The minister for citizen protection, Michalis Chryssohoidis, will visit the site on Thursday morning.

The storms came after temperatures in Greecesoared to 37 degrees centigrade (98 degrees Fahrenheit) over the past two days.