Powerful storms brought heavy rain and flash flooding to several Greek islands on Monday, causing significant damage and disruption. The islands of Paros and Mykonos in the Cyclades were particularly hard hit, receiving at least a month’s worth of rainfall within just a few hours. The torrential rain swept vehicles and debris through the streets and washed boats away from the shore.
Firefighters had to rescue 13 people trapped by the floodwaters. Local authorities issued a travel ban, restricting road use to emergency vehicles only. Ferry services were also disrupted due to the severe weather conditions.
Schools on the affected islands were closed, and residents were urged to avoid travel.
Storms bring chaos to islands
Local media reported that further heavy rainfall will hit the region later this week.
On Tuesday, the storms moved on to islands closer to mainland Turkey and across Crete in the south. Although slightly less intense than Monday’s storms, they still brought heavy rain and flooding. On Crete, seven people had to be rescued from vehicles stranded in flood water, and landslips were also reported.
This week’s severe weather in the Aegean Sea stands in stark contrast to the conditions experienced across north-west Europe during March. Many areas, including the Netherlands, Belgium, England, and Wales, recorded one of the driest and sunniest months. High pressure is expected to dominate northern Europe for at least the first 10 days of April, indicating that the dry and sunny conditions are likely to continue in these regions.
However, the Greek islands will be hoping for a respite from the powerful storms that have caused so much damage and disruption this week.
Image Credits: Photo by Josep Castells on Unsplash
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
