International

Storm damage floods Rhodes as cars are swept away

Severe flooding hit Greece’s Rhodes island early on Monday, sweeping away cars, damaging businesses and forcing authorities to close schools in two municipal districts as emergency crews responded after torrential rain.

Archangelos hardest hit by torrential rain

The worst flooding occurred in villages on the eastern side of Rhodes, particularly overnight, when heavy rainfall inundated roads and created dangerous conditions for residents.

Archangelos was the hardest-hit area, as an overflowing river turned roads into torrents. Several cars were swept away by floodwaters, while shops and other business premises suffered damage.

The flooding caused major disruption, prompting emergency crews to respond across the affected areas.

Flooding on a smaller scale was also reported in Afantou and villages in southern Rhodes, where heavy rain disrupted road traffic.

Emergency crews work to clear flood damage

Civil Protection services, working with teams from the South Aegean Region and the Municipality of Rhodes, were mobilised from the first hours of the storm.

Their efforts are focused on recovering vehicles swept away by floodwaters, clearing drainage systems and removing debris obstructing waterways.

Work is also under way on the road network to restore traffic and reduce risks to residents.

Although the rainfall eased during the morning, emergency services remain on high alert as further rain and thunderstorms remain possible throughout the day.

112 alert issued as schools close

Residents and visitors on Rhodes received an emergency warning through Greece’s 112 alert system in the early hours of Monday.

Civil Protection urged people to restrict non-essential travel and follow instructions from local authorities to avoid risks posed by the severe weather.

Schools in the municipal units of Archangelos and Afantou were also closed on Monday as a precaution.

The Municipality of Rhodes said protecting students and teachers was a priority, with the measure intended to prevent unnecessary travel and potential risks on journeys to and from school.

Boulder crashes into garage on Kalymnos

Severe weather also caused problems on the nearby island of Kalymnos, where heavy rainfall dislodged a large boulder from a hillside in the Agios Vasileios area.

The falling rock struck a garage and damaged a car parked inside, while posing a potential threat to homes situated further down the slope.

Kalymnos Mayor Giannis Mastrokoukos told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA) that the boulder had broken away from the hillside before crashing into the garage.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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