In brief
At least two fatalities have been reported as Storm Bora unleashes severe weather across Greece, particularly affecting the islands and mainland areas.
Two tragic deaths have been linked to Storm Bora, which has deluged Greece with torrential rain and intense winds, prompting the island of Rhodes to call for a state of emergency. Over 30 centimeters of rainfall has fallen on Rhodes since Saturday, causing widespread flooding and damage. The fatalities occurred on Lemnos Island, where flooding damaged infrastructure and residents were urged to evacuate. In Lemnos, the rural roads connecting the villages of Kontias, Thanos, and Agios Dimitris were completely destroyed. A 70-year-old man died while attempting to clear debris from his home, and a 57-year-old farmer drowned near a flooded dam after being swept away by fast-moving waters while trying to free his vehicle trapped in mud. Local authorities have warned of the potential for the dam to overflow, resulting in evacuation orders for Kontias residents. Conditions on Rhodes have been described by locals as "dramatic," with a 24-hour vehicle ban imposed due to impassable roads and collapsed bridges in the Kallithea-Faliraki region. Mayor Alexandros Koliadis has formally requested the Greek government declare a state of emergency for the island. Cleanup efforts have begun on Rhodes, while in Thessaloniki, officials have advised residents in the Pylaia and Chortiatis areas to limit their movements due to gale-force winds exceeding 80 km/h (50 mph). Power outages have struck the region following damage to the electricity grid from the storms, causing delays on the Thessaloniki-Athens railway. Additionally, high winds caused a cargo ship in the port of Thessaloniki to drift and collide with another vessel, resulting in significant damage. Forecasters warn that Storm Bora may continue to impact various parts of Greece through early Tuesday, targeting the northern Aegean region, central Macedonia, and several other prefectures.
