ATHENS, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Authorities declared a state of emergency in parts of northeastern Greece on Sunday after heavy rain caused floods near the border with Turkey, forcing residents of several villages to evacuate their homes. In the town of Komotini, residents evacuated their homes on Saturday after water filled the streets and flooded their homes. The army sent in military trucks to evacuate those who stayed behind, and authorities declared a state of emergency in the town, where a river burst its banks trapping farm animals in their pens. Cars and farm vehicles were also immersed in water. In the town of Arcadia in southern Peloponnese, several homes were flooded and a road and three bridges collapsed after the Alfeios river overflowed, cutting off traffic in the area. Authorities in Ilia province, which was hit by devastating summer forest fires earlier this year, were also on alert but said no serious flooding problems had been reported yet. But mudslides had occurred in some areas and rain continued in the region. (Reporting by George Georgiopoulos; editing by Sami Aboudi)
