The extreme heat gave way to storms, flooded hotels, and canceled flights in several resort areas on the Greek mainland and on the island of Skiathos. At least one dead person is known. Due to the dangerous weather, the British Foreign Ministry has issued a warning for tourists, but it is also relevant for Ukrainians. This was reported by the Mirror portal.
The island of Skiathos was “underwater”
The island of Skiathos, which was considered an idyllic paradise for tourists, has turned into a place from which you want to escape. All because of heavy rains and floods. Hundreds of houses were underwater, it is known about at least one dead person – a wall collapsed on him in the city of Volos, and one missing person – the car he was in was swept away by flood waters. As a result of the storm, the roads turned into raging rivers, and lightning constantly flashed over the island.
Holidaymaker Emma Taylor, who was left stranded by the weather, told MailOnline: ‘It’s a serious storm. The corridors of our hotel were flooded, the ceilings were dripping, the power was cut off, and we were lucky to be high up in Skiathos Palace, Koukounaris. Some guests were asked to leave their rooms.
Authorities’ travel warnings are not limited to Skiathos. The Greek police imposed a traffic ban in Volos and the mountainous region of Pelion. The situation leaves no doubt — other areas may face large-scale consequences of the natural disaster. The Greek authorities call on the residents of central Greece and the islands of Sporades, as well as the islands of Evia, not to leave their hotels outside and to stay indoors until the situation is clarified.
Authorities are sending mobile phone alerts to residents of affected areas of Greece urging them to limit outdoor movement as water overflows its banks, cars are washed out to sea, roads are blocked by rockfalls and power is out in many areas.
The British Foreign Office has not been left behind and has issued a warning for tourists traveling to Greece. “Adverse weather conditions, including flooding, are affecting some regions. The situation can change quickly. Stay tuned for official updates on social media,” the official statement said.
Deadly forest fires and climate change
It will be recalled that the terrible storm “Daniel” erupted after several months of very high temperatures in Greece, which caused severe forest fires in Rhodes and the outskirts of Athens. The fires lasted more than two weeks and took the lives of twenty people.
Amid continuous heavy downpours, Skiathos International Airport and airlines canceled several flight departures and arrivals for Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving tourists in dire straits. On social networks, they are asking for help and asking to solve the issue of evacuation from the resort island, located east of the mainland of Greece, as soon as possible. The carriers said through their official channels that they are monitoring the forecast and will confirm departures as soon as the situation with showers and winds normalizes.
Greek Civil Defense Minister Vassilis Kikilias and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis blamed the wildfires and storms on climate change, stressing that extreme weather is the main threat to be faced. “I’m afraid that the carefree summer as we knew it will cease to exist, and from this point on, the coming summer will probably be even more difficult,” the Prime Minister worriedly announced last Tuesday.