Storm Bora Causes Two Fatalities and Widespread Damage Across Greece

Two men have died as torrential rainfall and gale-force winds have led to flooding and damage across Greece. The island of Rhodes, one of the initial areas impacted by Storm Bora, has reported more than 30cm of rain since Saturday. The fatalities occurred on the island of Lemnos, where flooding compromised roads and buildings, prompting residents to evacuate their homes due to concerns about a potential dam overflow. Damage has also been reported in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city on the mainland. The National Meteorological Service of Greece indicated that the rain and storms are expected to affect the majority of the country in the upcoming hours. On Lemnos, the rural road network connecting the villages of Kontias with Thanos and Agios Dimitris has been completely destroyed. In Kontias, a 70-year-old man died after falling while attempting to clear his house. Firefighters discovered the body of a 57-year-old farmer, who had been reported missing by his family, near a flooded dam close to the village. According to police sources, he drowned after being swept away by rushing waters as he tried to free his car, which had become stuck in mud within a stream. Residents in Kontias were asked to evacuate their homes due to fears that the dam would overflow. Residents described the situation on Rhodes as “dramatic.” A 24-hour ban on vehicle movement across the island’s road network has been imposed. During the night, several individuals became trapped by rushing waters after many roads flooded. Giorgos Hatzimarkos, the regional governor of Southern Aegean, stated that Rhodes had sustained “enormous damage.” Many roads on the island are impassable, and bridges have collapsed in the Kallithea-Faliraki area. Alexandros Koliadis, the Mayor of Rhodes, has submitted a request to the Greek government to declare the island as being in a state of emergency. In Thessaloniki, the civil protection department has urged residents in the Pylaia and Chortiatis areas to limit their movements because of gale-force winds, with gusts reaching more than 80km/h (50mph). The area has experienced power cuts after strong winds and falling trees caused damage to the electricity grid. These power outages have also led to delays on the Thessaloniki-Athens railway line. Meanwhile, a cargo ship moored in the port of Thessaloniki was swept away by the high winds, resulting in a collision with another cargo ship and damage to both vessels. Forecasters predict that Storm Bora is likely to affect many parts of Greece until early on Tuesday. In the coming hours, the conditions are expected to impact the northern Aegean region, central Macedonia, parts of Halkidiki, the prefecture of Thessaloniki, Imathia, Pieria, Thessaly, and Larissa.