Storms and Floods Bring Chaos to Crete as Drivers and Tourists Are Rescued

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Heavy storms and flash floods trapped drivers, forced tourist evacuations and washed cars and trees into the sea on Crete, as the island entered a third day of severe weather.

The worst damage was on the southeast coast, around Ierapetra. Mayor Manolis Frangoulis said a few tourists had to be evacuated and a woman was taken to hospital as a precaution. Roads were blocked by debris, and some vehicles were swept into the sea.

“We have cars in the sea, and the whole department is working to at least reopen transport,” he said.

Overnight rescues

Flooding on the Ierapetra–Sitia road trapped 23 people in their cars, state broadcaster ERT reported. Three tourists and their taxi driver abandoned a vehicle after floodwater began to carry it away. The car lodged against the roadside, and they escaped.

Firefighters carried out about 23 rescues from vehicles and homes in Ferma and Makry Gialos, and took dozens of calls to pump water from flooded houses and businesses. In Ferma, four German nationals trapped in a car were found after a 112 call and moved to safety. A Swiss couple was also helped. An elderly woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Four people cut off in Agia Fotia bay were picked up by a coastguard vessel and taken to Makry Gialos. All were reported in good health. A landslide at Ferma sent a boulder onto a passing car. The vehicle was damaged, but no injuries were reported.

Ierapetra’s deputy mayor for civil protection, Giorgos Kougioumtzakis, said the area had not seen such volumes of water before. Sections of the Ierapetra–Sitia road remained closed at Agia Fotia and Koutsouras, with one eastbound stretch swept into the sea.

Waves, landslides and alerts

At the port of Chania, large waves damaged seafront restaurants and tourist venues. Civil protection urged residents in several towns, including parts of Mylopotamos in Rethymno, to limit travel and move to higher ground. Emergency alerts were sent by 112.

In Heraklion, deputy regional governor Nikos Syrigonakis said crews were clearing small landslides and debris and watching stream and river levels.

Between Friday and 3.50 p.m. GMT on Saturday, 42 centimetres of rain fell in the Chania area, the National Observatory said. Winds reached force 8 to 9 on the Beaufort scale. The Region of Crete kept services on red-code alert, with storms forecast to continue into Sunday.

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