Heavy storms triggered severe flooding on the Greek island of Crete, trapping motorists in their vehicles and forcing the evacuation of several tourists, local officials said Saturday. The flooding swept cars and trees into the sea as torrential rainfall overwhelmed roads and disrupted movement in parts of the island. Manolis……
Heavy storms triggered severe flooding on the Greek island of Crete, trapping motorists in their vehicles and forcing the evacuation of several tourists, local officials said Saturday.
The flooding swept cars and trees into the sea as torrential rainfall overwhelmed roads and disrupted movement in parts of the island.
Manolis Frangoulis, mayor of the southeastern port town of Ierapetra, said emergency teams had evacuated several tourists from affected areas.
“We had to evacuate a few tourists and a woman had to be taken to hospital as a precaution,” Frangoulis told AFP.
Ierapetra was hit by intense rainfall on Friday and Saturday, leaving several roads impassable after they were covered with mud, debris and other materials washed down by the floodwaters.
The heavy downpours also caused significant disruption in the coastal town as authorities worked to clear affected roads and assist people stranded by the flooding.
READ ALSO: Flood Damage Bridge, Destroy Properties Across Osun Communities
“We have cars in the sea and all the department is working to at least re-establish transport,” Frangoulis.
On the road between Ierapetra and Sitia, flooding trapped 23 people in their cars, state television channel ERT reported.
Three tourists and their taxi driver had to abandon their vehicle after flood waters began to carry away their vehicle, ERT added.
At the port of Canea, a popular tourist destination, giant waves damaged seafront restaurants and tourist venues.
The civil protection agency called on residents of several towns to limit their movements.
The deputy governor of the Heraklion region, Nikos Syrigonakis, said emergency services were working to clear small landslides and remove debris from local roads.
They remained on high alert, monitoring the water levels of the streams and rivers, he told the Greek news agency ANA.
Between Friday and Saturday at 1550 GMT (6:50 pm), 42 cm of rain fell in the Canea department, said the Greek national observatory.
The wind speeds were reached up to eight and nine on the Beaufort Scale, said the EMY weather service.
AFP
