Corfu storm: trees uprooted, power knocked out and two fires ignited in midnight squall
The storm struck just after midnight, hitting the Diapontia Islands first before ripping into Corfu, uprooting trees, cutting power and igniting two fires within minutes.
Sudden weather shift after midnight
A violent change in the weather struck Corfu during the night of Tuesday 21 July to Wednesday 22 July 2026, following a period of heatwave, high temperatures, and calm winds. The intense phenomena appeared first over the Diapontia Islands around midnight before sweeping across Corfu itself. Residents described the sudden squall as something they had never experienced before, with winds and torrential rain concentrated into a few minutes. The transition from stillness to destructive gusts was abrupt, catching the island off guard in the early hours of Wednesday.
Structural damage and road closures
Within minutes of the storm's arrival, trees were uprooted mostly in the northern and central parts of the island. The fire service and civil protection units were mobilized to restore traffic at sites where fallen trunks blocked key routes. Specific locations mentioned by local news include the national road of Pelekas, the national road of Paleokastritsa, Kato Garouna, Agios Markos, and several zones across northern Corfu. Crews worked through the morning to clear debris and reopen access roads.
- A sudden storm with strong winds and heavy rainfall strikes the Diapontia Islands initially, then moves to Corfu
- Trees are uprooted mainly in northern and central Corfu, disrupting the electricity network
- Two fires ignite in Peroulades and Almyros Acharavi due to trees falling on power cables; both are brought under full control quickly
- Fire service and civil protection crews clear roads blocked by fallen trees; DEDDIE crews work to restore the power grid
Electricity grid knocked out
The uprooting of trees caused extensive damage to the electricity network, mainly when branches and trunks crashed onto power cables. A substantial part of the island was left without electricity for several hours. DEDDIE repair teams were dispatched to restore the network, prioritizing the northern regions where most outages were reported. The darkness that enveloped large sections of Corfu compounded the disruption during the early morning.
Two fires from fallen cables
Two fires ignited after trees fell onto power lines. One broke out in the village of Peroulades and another in Almyros Acharavi, both in the north. Firefighters brought the blazes under full control quickly, preventing them from spreading further. The fires added a secondary hazard to an already unstable situation, but no further escalation was reported.
Ongoing recovery
By late morning on 22 July, emergency services remained active across the island. The priority was clearing the remaining blocked roads and reconnecting households that were still without power. Local authorities continued to assess the full extent of the damage, while residents in the hardest-hit northern and central areas began clearing fallen branches from their properties.
