Severe storms battered the Greek island of Crete on Thursday, leaving one person dead and causing widespread flooding, damage to roads and infrastructure, and emergency warnings across some of the hardest-hit areas.
An 80-year-old livestock farmer who had been missing since Wednesday evening was found dead in the Karines area of Rethymno. His body was discovered covered by debris carried by the floodwaters following an overnight search by emergency crews.
Streams Overflow and Bridge Collapses
Some of the most serious damage was reported in the mountainous Mylopotamos area of Rethymno, where torrential rain caused rivers and streams to overflow, flooding homes and turning roads into fast-moving waterways.
A bridge collapsed amid the flooding, while a couple was taken to hospital after their vehicle was caught in the severe conditions. Emergency crews have been responding to incidents across affected parts of the island.
The storm has also disrupted daily life, with schools closed in several areas and roads becoming impassable because of flooding, mud and debris.
🔴 Crete battered by severe storms: floods, bridge collapse, power cuts across island
Heavy rain and thunderstorms since Wednesday night have triggered flooding, landslides, and power outages across Crete. A vehicle plunged into a river after part of the Diskouri bridge in… pic.twitter.com/LLXtMOisWL
— NewsTongue (@NewsTongueX) October 1, 2026
Homes Flooded as River Overflows
The village of Zoniana, in the mountains of Rethymno, was among the areas particularly badly affected.
A river overflowed after hours of heavy rainfall, sending large volumes of water through parts of the village. Homes were flooded, while the accumulation of water made travel extremely difficult.
Nearby Livadia and other communities across the mountainous Mylopotamos region have also experienced serious problems as the storm continues.
Greece’s Civil Protection service sent an emergency 112 alert early Thursday morning to residents and visitors in Zoniana, Livadia and the wider mountainous area, urging them to avoid unnecessary travel.
Additional emergency alerts were issued for other parts of Crete as conditions deteriorated.
🔴 Σοκαριστικές εικόνες από τον Μυλοπόταμο Ρεθύμνου, όπου γεφυράκι στην περιοχή Δισκούρι, κοντά στα Ζωνιανά, υποχώρησε την ώρα που περνούσε ένα αυτοκίνητο.
Στο ΙΧ επέβαινε ηλικιωμένο ζευγάρι, το οποίο εγκλωβίστηκε και μεταφέρθηκε προληπτικά στο νοσοκομείο. Σύμφωνα με τις μέχρι… pic.twitter.com/UA3g4VPbw5
— TA NEA (@ta_nea) October 1, 2026
Crete Placed on Red Alert
Greek authorities placed Crete under the highest level of weather warning as forecasters warned of exceptionally heavy rainfall and a high risk of further flooding.
The severe weather is affecting much of the island, with Rethymno and Chania among the areas facing the greatest risk.
Schools have been closed in affected areas, while dangerous conditions have also forced restrictions on road traffic. The Samaria Gorge, one of Crete’s most popular attractions and a major destination for international visitors, remained closed because of the weather.
Large amounts of rain have already fallen across the island. Between Wednesday morning and Thursday morning, 174 millimeters of rain were recorded in Tzermiado in the Lasithi region. Samaria recorded 153 millimeters, while Sempronas in Chania received 149 millimeters.
Storms Expected to Continue
The extreme weather is not expected to disappear immediately.
Greece’s National Meteorological Service warned that powerful rain and thunderstorms could continue to affect Crete, particularly Chania and Rethymno, through the coming days.
Strong winds are also affecting the Aegean Sea, with northeasterly winds forecast to reach 8 to 9 on the Beaufort scale.
Authorities have advised residents and visitors to follow Civil Protection instructions, avoid flooded roads and limit travel in areas experiencing intense rainfall.
Crete, Greece’s largest island and one of the country’s most important international tourism destinations, remains under heightened alert as emergency services monitor conditions and assess the damage caused by the storms.
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