At least 2 people have died in flash floods on the island of Crete, southern Greece.
Torrential rain on 15 October triggered flash floods in Heraklion and Lasithi in Crete. Provisional figures show that in a 24 hour period to early 16 October, Sitia recorded 293.0 mm of rain, Kasteli 81.5 mm and Heraklion 142.7 mm. Strong winds have also been reported in the region.
The Greek Fire Department described the flooding as “extreme” and said they received 453 calls in just one hour.
Firefighters pulled an unconscious man from a vehicles that had been dragged into the sea on the coast of Agia Pelagia. A woman was reported missing in the same incident. Search and rescues teams later reported the body of missing woman was recovered from the sea in Agia Pelagia.
The Fire Department said 2 women were rescued from floods in the area of Lygaria. Around 30 people had to be evacuated by emergency teams and transported to a safe place, including 9 people from an archaeological site in Sitia.
The flooding has caused significant damage in particular in coastal areas where flood waters dumped debris, dragged vehicles and damaged buildings. Authorities said emergency teams were operating in the areas of Sitia, Ierapetra, Livadia, Agia Pelagia, Lygaria and Heraklion, among others.
On 13 October Greece’s National Meteorological Service and the General Secretariat of Civil Protection had issued warnings of severe weather in the country.
On 16 October Civil Protection asked all citizens to be vigilant in Crete and the southern islands of Rhodes, Karpathos, Kastellorizo and Kasos.
Featured image: File photo for illustration only. Damage from Medicane Zorba in Greece, September 2018. Photo: Greece Civil Protection
