The Greek islands of Rhodes and Lemnos are under a state of emergency following severe storms that resulted in two fatalities. Authorities declared the emergency for both islands, which are experiencing unusually high temperatures for December, reaching the high teens.
Rescue operations, supported by military personnel and local authorities, have focused on evacuating elderly residents from flood-affected areas. The storms, characterized by strong winds and heavy rainfall, caused significant damage, including overturned vehicles, power outages, and road destruction.
Two individuals lost their lives in a flooded village on Lemnos, prompting evacuations to hotels in the island's main port. Vassilis Kikilias, the Greek Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, emphasized the importance of adhering to evacuation alerts sent via mobile notifications. He stated, 'It is a thousand times better to comply with potentially excessive warnings than to face tragedy.'
Kikilias attributed the increasingly severe weather patterns in Greece to climate change, noting a history of heatwaves that have exacerbated wildfires, a severe drought earlier this year, and significant flooding in central Greece in 2023.
Rail services on the Greek mainland were disrupted throughout Monday. Weather warnings continue for the eastern Aegean islands and parts of central and southern Greece. Forecasts indicate that unsettled weather will persist in the coming days, with a return to sunny conditions expected next week, featuring temperatures around 20°C.