The picturesque Greek island of Skiathos is steadily on the road to recovery after enduring the wrath of Storm Daniel, a powerful weather system that unleashed torrential rains earlier this week, causing widespread flooding and disruption in the region.
Since Monday, Greece has been grappling with the aftermath of Storm Daniel, which led to devastating floods in areas including Skiathos and the Region of Thessaly. These calamitous events resulted in flight cancellations, streets submerged by rainfall, and vehicles swept away in the surging waters.
Providing an update on Thursday, Mayor Thodoris Tzoumas of Skiathos expressed cautious optimism about the island's recovery efforts. "Things are looking much brighter," he remarked.
Reflecting on the resilience displayed by Skiathos residents and visitors alike, Mayor Tzoumas stated, "My beloved island of Skiathos has been through a major disaster this week, but I am proud of how our strength has shone through." He highlighted the tremendous efforts put into the cleanup process, which has already yielded significant progress. Water and power have been fully restored, public transport is operational, and roads are accessible once more.
On Tuesday, Skiathos had a curfew imposed by the Greek police to safeguard the island's inhabitants. Mayor Tzoumas expressed gratitude for the solidarity and support shown during this challenging period, particularly acknowledging the assistance provided by the Greek government in the island's recovery efforts.
"Keeping everyone on the island safe has been our utmost priority," Mayor Tzoumas affirmed. "Yes, we have suffered, but we are operational and ready to welcome visitors to the island."
In the wake of the flooding, several hotels across Skiathos have faced various challenges. Panos Andritsopoulos, President of the Skiathos Hoteliers Association, emphasised that the primary concern is the safety of all guests. Despite the island's trials, it remains operational and open to guests.
Andritsopoulos reassured, "All damage caused by the flooding across the island is being addressed, and with improved weather conditions, the airport is fully functional."
Konstantinos Santikos, a Greek hotelier and the managing director of the Santikos Collection family hotel group, reflected on the resilience and capabilities of Skiathos' hoteliers in the face of the extreme weather. "Ensuring the safety of everyone on the island has been the utmost priority," he affirmed. Efforts have been swiftly launched to resume flights, with a focus on repatriation flights and supporting those whose accommodations were affected.
Santikos further noted that the Santikos Collection's hotels, Aegean Suites and Princess Resort, are both fully operational following the floods on the island. Skiathos, once again, stands resilient, determined to rebuild and recover from the recent natural disaster, all while extending a warm Greek welcome to visitors.
