Greek Islands Rhodes and Lemnos Declare State of Emergency After Deadly Storm Bora

Authorities on the Greek islands of Rhodes and Lemnos declared a state of emergency on Monday after powerful storms wreaked havoc over the weekend, leaving two dead and causing extensive damage.

Storm Bora, which brought torrential rain and strong winds, flooded areas, overturned cars, and disrupted power supplies and transportation. Rescue teams, supported by military personnel and local authorities, worked tirelessly to evacuate vulnerable residents, particularly the elderly, from flood-affected zones.

Tragically, two men lost their lives in a flooded village on Lemnos. In addition, dozens of people were evacuated from their homes and relocated to hotels in the island's main port for safety.

Vassilis Kikilias, Greece’s Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, urged residents in affected areas to heed evacuation orders, which were sent via cellphone alerts. "It is a thousand times better to comply with potentially excessive warnings than to face tragedy," Kikilias emphasised in an interview with private broadcaster Skai.

Kikilias also linked the extreme weather events to the ongoing impact of climate change, noting that in recent years, Greece has experienced severe heatwaves, droughts, and devastating floods, including the catastrophic flooding in central Greece in 2023.

The storms also caused significant disruptions to rail travel on the Greek mainland, and weather warnings remain in effect for several eastern Aegean islands as well as parts of central and southern mainland Greece.