Over the weekend, the Greek islands of Rhodes and Lemnos were hit by a powerful storm, resulting in the loss of two lives and significant damage to infrastructure. Authorities declared a state of emergency for both islands on Monday, December 2nd.
According to drone footage from Reuters, the storm caused floods that destroyed a bridge at the renowned holiday destination, creating cracks in the ground and damaging houses and shops along the coast.
The storm and heavy rainfall also disrupted train services on the Greek mainland, especially in the central and northern regions.
Rescue teams, with the assistance of the military and local authorities, evacuated many elderly residents affected by the floods in various areas. Additionally, the storm caused power outages.
Over the weekend, on Lemnos Island, two men lost their lives in a village submerged by floodwaters. Dozens of people were evacuated and accommodated in hotels at the main port on the island.
In recent years, this Mediterranean country has been plagued by floods and wildfires, leading scientists to label Greece as a “hotspot” for extreme weather events.
Vassilis Kikilias, the Minister responsible for climate crisis and civil protection, urged residents in storm-hit areas to comply with evacuation orders issued through mobile notifications. In an interview with a private television network, Skai, he emphasized, “It is a thousand times better to heed potentially excessive warnings than to face tragedy.”