Authorities on the Greek island of Rhodes began assessing extensive damage Thursday after torrential rainfall triggered widespread flooding, landslides and infrastructure disruptions, prompting the mayor to request a state of emergency.
More than 280 millimeters of rain fell within hours on Wednesday, flooding homes, businesses and hotels, damaging roads and leaving vehicles stranded across several parts of the island.
The storm also claimed the life of a 62-year-old hotel employee who was swept away by floodwaters in the Stegna area. His body was recovered by Coast Guard personnel. Four vehicles were swept into the sea in the same area.
Extensive Damage to Roads and Properties
Among the hardest-hit areas were Archangelos, Faliraki, Afandou, Ialysos, Stegna and Rhodes town, where flooding damaged residential and commercial properties.
Hotel facilities were inundated with muddy water, while landslides and accumulated debris made several roads impassable.
According to local newspaper Dimokratiki, firefighters were called to rescue stranded motorists in Asgourou and the Rodini district. Dozens of vehicles were immobilized on the Rhodes-Lindos highway near Tsairi.
Significant damage was recorded on the Archangelos-Malona road near Aithonas, where a large boulder fell onto the roadway and damaged protective barriers.
Additional landslides affected the Tsairi-airport route, the Archipoli-Kolymbia road and the area near Panagia Tsambika. Authorities closed the bridge leading to Archangelos and sections of the road network in Afandou because of safety concerns.
Power outages and telecommunications disruptions were also reported, while floodwater and fallen rocks complicated emergency response operations.
State of Emergency Requested, Schools Remain Closed
Rhodes Mayor Alexandros Koliadis requested that the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection declare the island a state of emergency to facilitate recovery operations.
Civil Protection teams, firefighters, police and volunteers responded to flooding incidents throughout Wednesday, assisting stranded residents and motorists.
Emergency alerts were issued through Greece’s 112 system, advising residents to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from flooded roads and streams. Municipal transportation services were temporarily suspended as authorities assessed the condition of the road network.
All schools remained closed Thursday, October 15, under an extension of the municipality’s suspension order. The measure also covers preschools, special education facilities, municipal sports centers, creative activity centers and other municipal educational facilities.
The closures were intended to allow inspections of buildings and infrastructure before activities resume.
Archaeological sites were also closed Wednesday, and a scheduled municipal council meeting was postponed.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
