One man has died and two people are missing after flash flooding swept through the Greek island of Crete, a popular holiday destination for British tourists. The victim, a man in his 50s, was found dead in his car after torrential rain caused extensive damage in seaside villages on Friday.
Emergency services reported that a woman was slightly injured when she also became trapped in a vehicle. At least nine cars remained submerged and awaiting rescue on Saturday evening. The authorities received more than 450 emergency calls within a single hour on Friday morning.
Eight tourists and a security guard were stranded in the archaeological museum in the coastal town of Sitia. All gorges on the island, frequented by hikers, have been closed to the public indefinitely. Mayor of Sitia described the situation as 'out of control' due to the exceptional weather.
Scientists say human-induced climate breakdown is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including floods. A senior official in the Heraklion region urged residents to limit their movements, while the civil defence department mobilised and called for vigilance across Crete and neighbouring islands.
