Crete at the mercy of severe weather: Floods, landslides, power cuts and closed schools

Severe problems in many parts of the Greek island of Crete have been caused by the powerful wave of bad weather that has been under way since Wednesday night.

The situation is particularly difficult in the mountainous Mylopotamos area, where the deluge has created serious disruption, mainly in Zoniana, Livadia and Axos.

In Zoniana, water entered homes, roads were flooded and in many places debris has been swept onto the carriageway. Crews from the Municipality of Mylopotamos and the Region of Crete have been working since the early hours, using machinery to restore access and tackle the damage.

At the same time, in Zoniana water is being pumped out of basements and other underground spaces. A similar operation is under way in Axos, where damage has also been recorded, while there are temporary problems on the Axos, Anogeia road.

In Livadia, the force of the water flow caused damage to the Diskouri bridge. According to information available so far, a vehicle carrying a couple ended up in the river after part of the bridge collapsed.

The two occupants were injured and taken to the University General Hospital of Heraklion to receive medical care. Their condition has not yet been made known.

The bad weather has also caused problems to the electricity network. Zoniana, Anogeia and Axos are facing power cuts, while in Zoniana in particular there have been reports of fallen electricity poles.

Electricity grid operator HEDNO has been notified and crews are expected to carry out the necessary works to repair the damage.

So far there have been no reports of people being trapped or other situations posing an immediate risk to human life.

Because of the severity of the weather, a message has been sent via 112 advising citizens to avoid travelling to Zoniana, Livadia and the mountainous Mylopotamos area.

Authorities are urging people not to attempt to cross flooded roads and to exercise particular caution in areas where there have been landslides, rockfalls or damage to the road.

Municipal crews remain on standby, with the main priority being to secure safe access to the affected areas.

Heavy rainfall has also affected parts of Heraklion. Flooding has been recorded in areas of the city, while the Fire Service is receiving calls to pump out water.

Power cuts have been reported in the Agios Ioannis Chostos area, while problems are also being recorded in Tsalikaki.

Rainfall is also intense on the Lasithi Plateau, where the bad weather has continued since the night.

According to the available data from meteo.gr, in Tzermiado by Thursday morning 174 millimetres of rain had fallen since the onset of the severe weather.

The mayor of the Municipality of Lasithi Plateau, Giorgos Athanasakis, is appealing to residents to limit their movements and be particularly careful, as the bad weather is still under way.

In Sitia, and in particular in the Palekastro area, large quantities of water have accumulated in a car park, leaving vehicles submerged in the water.

At the same time, the Kalogeropotamos stream in the Agkathia area has swelled significantly, with the increased flow causing concern in neighbouring districts.

The severe weather has also led to decisions to suspend the operation of schools.

In the Municipality of Mylopotamos, primary and secondary schools are not operating, nor are nurseries and crèches.

Similarly, in the Regional Unit of Lasithi it was decided to suspend the operation of all schools for the day, due to the hazardous weather conditions.

Schools also remain closed in the Municipalities of Sitia and Lasithi Plateau, while similar decisions have been taken in parts of Chania, Rethymno and the Municipality of Minoa Pediada. In Mylopotamos the decision also covers kindergartens and nurseries.

The decisions have been taken as a precaution, with the aim of limiting travel by pupils, teachers and other staff during the severe weather.