A 62-year-old man has died after flash floods swept his car onto a beach on the Greek holiday island of Rhodes, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. The victim, a hotel worker, was found in Stegna, a village about 20 miles south of Rhodes Town, after a severe rainstorm caused a powerful surge of water to carry his vehicle ashore.
Emergency response and rescue operations
Firefighters and coast guard teams searched the coastline as four vehicles were washed away by the extreme weather, the coast guard confirmed. Emergency services received more than 100 calls for help on Rhodes, carrying out 13 operations to evacuate people to safety and 64 water-pumping operations.
In Archangelos, the island's largest traditional working village, an empty car was carried away by the floodwaters. Heavy rain turned roads into rivers across Rhodes, stranding dozens of vehicles in Ialysos, Rhodes town, Afandou, Faliraki and Archangelos.
State of emergency and travel warnings
Rhodes has been placed under a state of emergency, with schools across the island set to close on October 15 to allow inspections and damage assessments. Traffic was suspended on the Archangelos-Malona road after a large boulder fell onto the carriageway, damaging the road surface and safety barriers.
Local authorities urged residents on Rhodes and other Aegean Sea islands to restrict travel to essential journeys only. Greece has been hit by torrential rain and fierce winds, prompting code red weather warnings across seven regions, including Crete, Attica, Evia and the South Aegean.
Wider impact across Greece and Cyprus
Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas confirmed that the wind and rain caused widespread devastation, including uprooted trees, severe flooding and power cuts in numerous regions. Cyprus has been placed on an orange weather alert, with meteorologists warning of violent thunderstorms, powerful gusts and the threat of hail.
