Heavy rainfall in Crete caused flooding, damage to roads and infrastructure yesterday, while a torrent overflowed in Zoniana, turning streets into rivers. At the same time, a 112 emergency alert was issued urging residents to limit travel, and the island was placed under Red Code.
The difficult night brought further problems, with water accumulating in several areas and traffic bans imposed at dangerous locations, while severe weather conditions are expected to continue today.
A total of 20 people were rescued during the night, while traffic on the road from Ierapetra to Sitia had been suspended.
A rescue operation involving four German nationals ended successfully after they became trapped inside their vehicle due to high water levels in the Ferma area of Ierapetra, Crete.
At the Old Venetian Harbour of Chania, strong winds and rough seas created distinctly wintry conditions. Waves reached the entrances of businesses and, in several cases, even made it difficult for pedestrians to pass through the area.
Meanwhile, a sailing ban remains in force because of gale-force winds. Weather permitting, the ferry from Souda is expected to depart for Piraeus on Saturday evening.
Speaking about the situation in Crete as the island faces severe weather, Giorgos Tsapakos, Deputy Regional Governor for Civil Protection of Crete, told ERTnews programme “S/K apo tis 5” that the overall situation on the island was “relatively good”, with the exception of two areas where more significant problems had been recorded.
These include the Municipality of Mylopotamos, which had already been affected by the previous spell of severe weather and continues to experience intense conditions, as well as the Ferma area in Ierapetra, where heavy rainfall has been recorded since last night.
Efthymios Lekkas, Professor of Dynamic Tectonics, Applied Geology and Natural Disaster Management, also commented on the development of the severe weather in Crete.
He said the situation on the island was developing relatively well, as despite the intense conditions that had been forecast, the problems were not comparable to those recorded two days earlier.
The combination of heavy rainfall and Crete’s natural geographical environment caused problems which, according to the professor, were successfully addressed thanks to preparations made in advance by the operational authorities.
However, Lekkas stressed that particular caution is still required, especially among residents, as the ground has already been heavily saturated by rainfall over the previous days.
Source: ERT
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