FALIRAKI, Greece (Reuters) – Homes, businesses and roads in the Greek tourist island of Rhodes were covered in mud and debris on Monday after Storm Bora battered the country over the weekend.
In the resort of Faliraki the flooding caused by torrential rains destroyed a bridge, caused chasms to open up in the ground and damaged homes and shops on the coast, Reuters drone footage showed.
In the village of Tsairi, a bridge also collapsed, cutting off residents from the main roads.
“The bridge is broken in two, and there is no other road that is easily accessible, either by car or on foot, to reach the main road and go anywhere,” local resident Flora Drapanou, 31, said.
The fire brigade has deployed aerial units, sending 35 firefighters from Athens with pumping equipment and two rescue boats. In addition, 40 firefighters with 10 vehicles have arrived by sea from Piraeus to support the relief efforts.
On Saturday, a 57-year-old man on the island of Limnos, in the northern Aegean, was swept away by strong currents while trying to free his car, the fire brigade said.
The islands of Rhodes and Limnos have declared a state of emergency.
The Mediterranean country has been ravaged by floods and wildfires in recent years, with scientists saying that Greece has become a “hot spot” for climate change.
In 2023, more than 20,000 tourist and locals were forced to flee homes and seaside hotels as wildfires burned for days.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain also interrupted train services in mainland Greece, especially in the centre and north of the country.
(Reporting by Stelios Misinas, Writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Alison Williams)
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