Helicopters airlift residents to safety from deadly floods in central Greece

Record rainfall hit Larissa, Thessaly (AP)

Severe rainstorms have eased but floodwaters are still rising in parts of central Greece as rescue helicopters pluck people from villages inundated by tonnes of water and mud that have left six dead, six missing and many people clinging to the roofs of their homes.

Flooding triggered by rainstorms also hit neighbouring Bulgaria and Turkey, killing a total of 18 people in all three countries since the rains began on Tuesday.