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Severe Weather Hits Greece, Resulting in Fatalities and Extensive Damage
Torrential rains and powerful winds have wreaked havoc across Greece, leading to the tragic deaths of two individuals and significant destruction in various areas. The island of Rhodes was one of the first locations to feel the impact of Storm Bora, receiving more than 30 centimeters of rain since Saturday.
The fatalities occurred on the island of Lemnos, where flooding severely compromised infrastructure, damaging roads and buildings. Authorities urged residents to evacuate their homes due to imminent concerns that a local dam might overflow.
Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, also reported damage as the storms are expected to affect most of the country in the ensuing hours, according to the National Meteorological Service of Greece.
On Lemnos, critical rural roads linking the villages of Kontias, Thanos, and Agios Dimitris have been utterly destroyed. A 70-year-old man succumbed to injuries after falling while trying to clear debris from his home. Additionally, a 57-year-old farmer was discovered deceased by firefighters after his family reported him missing. It is believed he drowned after being swept away by floodwaters while trying to retrieve his stuck vehicle.
Local authorities have requested that residents in Kontias evacuate due to the risk of dam overflow. Meanwhile, residents on Rhodes described the situation as “dramatic.” A 24-hour ban on vehicle movement has been enacted across the island as various roads became impassable due to flooding.
According to Giorgos Hatzimarkos, the regional governor of the Southern Aegean, Rhodes has sustained “enormous damage.” Many of the island’s roads are untraversable, and several bridges have collapsed, particularly in the Kallithea-Faliraki region. In response, Alexandros Koliadis, the Mayor of Rhodes, has formally requested the Greek government to declare a state of emergency for the island.
In Thessaloniki, the civil protection department has advised residents in the Pylaia and Chortiatis areas to restrict their movements due to the prevalence of gale-force winds, with gusts surpassing 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph). The strong winds have also caused power outages and disrupted the electricity grid after falling trees damaged power lines, leading to delays on the Thessaloniki-Athens railway.
Moreover, a cargo ship docked in Thessaloniki’s port was dislodged by the high winds, resulting in a collision with another vessel, causing damage to both ships.
Forecasts indicate that Storm Bora will continue to affect numerous regions in Greece into early Tuesday. Anticipated impacts will likely extend to the northern Aegean region, central Macedonia, and various prefectures including Halkidiki, Imathia, Pieria, Thessaly, and Larissa in the hours ahead.
Source
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