Flash floods kill farmer and collapse bridge on Crete after 150 mm of rain

Fatalities and immediate damage

Severe flash floods and heavy rain struck central and eastern regions of Crete during the night between Wednesday and Thursday, leaving one person dead and disrupting basic services across the island. A 79-year-old shepherd from the village of Karines, located south of Rethymno, left his home on Wednesday evening to attend to his herd and failed to return. Police and firefighters discovered his body under debris in a ravine on Thursday morning after his family reported him missing. Maria Leoni, the vice-mayor of Rethymno, stated that the farmer lost his life while attempting to cross a swollen river. Elsewhere on the island, emergency responders in Heraklion pulled a woman and a man from swift floodwaters moments before they could be carried away.

Infrastructure failure across municipalities

Municipalities across central Crete suffered extensive damage to transport and municipal infrastructure after 150 millimetres of rain fell within a few hours. In the mountainous municipality of Mylopotamos, floodwaters entered residential homes and submerged local roadways in the communities of Zoniana and Axos. Near the village of Livadia, located roughly 40 kilometres southwest of Heraklion, a swollen river partially collapsed a bridge while an off-road vehicle carrying two people crossed over it. Both passengers survived the structure's collapse and were taken to a local hospital for medical treatment. Mayor Georgios Klados called for authorities to declare a state of emergency in the area.

We are the largest livestock municipality in Greece and right now we have no access to the sheepfolds. We are talking about a terrible disaster.

Disruption of utilities and ferry networks

Strong winds and inundations also crippled public utilities and severed transport links across southern Greece. Gale-force wind gusts reaching up to 88 kilometres per hour toppled multiple electrical utility poles in Zoniana, cutting off power across Zoniana, Axos, and Anogeia. In Heraklion, the municipal water authority warned that power grid failures would disrupt the drinking water supply for nearly the entire city and its surrounding areas. High winds in the Aegean Sea forced maritime authorities to restrict ferry traffic connecting mainland Greece to island routes at the ports of Rafina and Lavrio. Downpours also swept away several cars into the sea at Hersonissos and flooded roads on the Cycladic islands of Paros and Mykonos.

Emergency response and school closures

Civil protection authorities issued emergency mobile alerts through the 112 system, advising residents and visitors across affected areas to avoid non-essential travel. The Hellenic Fire Service carried out 21 emergency interventions across Crete, including 15 operations focused on pumping water and extricating residents in Heraklion. Emergency crews also evacuated dozens of residents along the swollen Drakouliaris river to safer locations. Municipal authorities in Mylopotamos, Oropedio Lasithiou, Sitia, Chania, and Rethymno suspended all classes in schools and kindergartens on Thursday. The severe weather arrived during the closing weeks of the Mediterranean island's autumn tourist season, which typically concludes in late October.