Crete remains at the centre of a severe weather system on Thursday, October 1, with torrential rain and thunderstorms flooding homes and roads, sweeping debris through communities and disrupting power across the island. Authorities have issued repeated 112 alerts, closed schools in several areas and restricted traffic in parts of the Lasithi Plateau and Rethymno. The Region of Crete remains under Red Code until Sunday, October 4.
Crete remains at the centre of severe weather on Thursday, with torrential rain and thunderstorms causing widespread flooding, power cuts and major damage across the island.
The heaviest problems have emerged in Chania, Rethymno and Heraklion, where floodwaters have turned roads into rivers, entered homes and covered vehicles in mud. Firefighters continue to pump water from flooded properties as authorities urge residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
Shortly before 7am on Thursday, Greece’s Civil Protection authorities sent a 112 emergency alert to residents and visitors in Zoniana, Livadia and the mountainous Mylopotamos area of Rethymno, urging them to limit their movements because of the severe weather.
Flooding across Rethymno
Rethymno has suffered some of the most serious problems, with homes flooded and powerful torrents carrying mud, stones and debris through villages.
A resident of Zoniana described water entering homes “like a river” as the storm overwhelmed the area.
In Sitia, particularly around Palekastro, large quantities of muddy water covered cars in a parking area.
Power cuts have also affected several parts of Heraklion, including Agios Ioannis (Chostos) and Tsalikaki, where residents were left without electricity.
Schools remain closed in Chania and Rethymno because of the dangerous weather, with lessons moving online. Authorities have also suspended classes at all primary and secondary schools and nurseries in Mylopotamos.
All schools and childcare centres in the Municipality of Minoa also remain closed on Thursday because of the adverse weather conditions.
Traffic ban imposed on Lasithi Plateau
Authorities introduced a traffic ban across the Lasithi Plateau basin early Thursday after intense rainfall raised safety concerns.
Lasithi Plateau Mayor Giorgos Athanasakis urged residents to remain at home and use the peripheral road only when necessary.
He said the heavy rainfall had already caused significant damage to crops across the basin but stressed that protecting residents remained the immediate priority.
Rushing water sweeps away bridge
In Livadia, powerful floodwaters swept away the Diskouriou Bridge, sending a couple travelling through the area into the riverbed. The couple suffered injuries and went to the University Hospital of Heraklion (PAGNI). Their condition was not immediately known.
Mylopotamos Mayor Giorgos Klados said the river carried away half of the bridge before the couple’s vehicle fell into the riverbed.
“Fortunately, we did not mourn any victims,” he said, according to Cretalive.
Klados described the situation across the municipality as extremely serious and compared the scale of the flooding with major disasters remembered by older residents from 1986.
In Zoniana, mud, rocks and debris blocked streams as floodwater entered the village and swept away vehicles. Livadia and other parts of the municipality also suffered extensive damage to roads and infrastructure.
The mayor called for coordination between the municipality and the relevant ministries to deal with the situation.
Firefighters reinforce Crete
Authorities had already strengthened emergency operations in Crete on Wednesday because of the high risk of flooding.
Following an order from the Chief of the Hellenic Fire Service, senior firefighting officials and additional specialist units travelled by ferry from Piraeus to Chania overnight to coordinate operations and reinforce local services.
The reinforcements included a swift-water rescue team with boats from the 6th EMAK, a specialist tracked vehicle and boat from the 1st EMAK, and a team from the Fire Service’s Special Motorised Operations Unit (METPE) equipped with water pumps.
Authorities deployed the additional forces to improve operational readiness and respond rapidly to flooding and other problems caused by the intense rainfall.
Crete remains under Red Code
Municipalities, the Region of Crete, the Fire Service and other agencies remain on heightened alert as the severe weather continues.
The Region of Crete placed its civil protection mechanism under Red Code from Wednesday evening through Sunday, October 4, because of the risk of intense rain, thunderstorms and very strong north-easterly winds.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and never attempt to cross swollen streams, torrents or roads covered by floodwater.
