Photo credit: www.investing.com
Severe Flooding Hits Greek Island of Rhodes Amid Ongoing Storm
ATHENS (Reuters) – The idyllic Greek island of Rhodes faced significant flooding on Sunday as intense rainfall struck, painting a grim picture for locals and tourists alike. Storm Bora unleashed its fury for a second consecutive day, leading to the temporary prohibition of vehicle use across the island.
Tragedy struck on Saturday when flash floods claimed the life of a man on another island in the northern Aegean, underscoring the severe impact of this weather system.
The fire service on Rhodes reported receiving over 650 emergency calls for assistance in pumping out water from inundated structures. Emergency responders evacuated 80 individuals to safer locations, with the city of Ialysos facing the brunt of the flooding. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries.
Across Rhodes, cars and scattered debris were seen stacked high in the inundated streets. Residents worked tirelessly to clear mud from their drenched homes. Sofia Kanelli, a local resident from Ialysos, expressed her despair: “The situation is tragic; some have lost their homes, while others have fled, and our cars are in terrible condition.”
Vassilis Varthakogiannis, a spokesman for the fire brigade, shared insights with Greece’s SKAI TV, stating that the adverse weather conditions are expected to persist into Monday.
In recent years, Greece has grappled with the dual threats of floods and wildfires, with experts labeling the nation a “hot spot” for climate change impacts. Varthakogiannis remarked, “The conditions in recent years are markedly different; we are experiencing sudden downpours and rapid flooding.”
In 2023 alone, more than 20,000 tourists and residents were compelled to evacuate their homes and nearby hotels due to persistent wildfires that raged for days.
Additionally, thunderstorms and substantial rainfall disrupted train services in mainland Greece, particularly affecting regions in the central and northern parts of the country.
Source
www.investing.com