Severe weather battered the Cyclades islands in Greece on Monday afternoon, with Mykonos and Paros facing some of the most extreme conditions.
In Mykonos, residents were caught off guard as dozens of lightning strikes lit up the sky within just two hours. The storm brought a dramatic hailstorm to the island's main town, followed by intense rainfall that flooded narrow streets and homes. The sudden deluge turned alleys into rivers, sweeping away vehicles and leaving many locals describing the event as unlike anything they had seen before.
Paros, however, experienced even more catastrophic damage. Heavy rain triggered flash floods, landslides, and road collapses, cutting off access to key areas and prompting authorities to ban all vehicle movement across the island, except for emergency services. Torrents of water tore through the landscape, dragging cars and debris all the way to the port of Naoussa. Local officials warned residents and visitors to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel due to the dangerous conditions and extensive damage to the road network.
The Greek Civil Protection Authority issued a region-wide emergency alert through the national "112" warning system, urging residents across the Cyclades to remain on high alert until the morning of April 1st.
The message warned of "severe weather phenomena, locally intense," and advised people to follow official instructions closely.
Paros received the highest volume of rainfall in the region. In response to the crisis, a helicopter carrying eight firefighters was dispatched from Athens to support local emergency crews. The fire department reported several emergency calls, including the successful rescue of two people trapped in their vehicle by rising floodwaters. Officials expect the number of calls for help to rise as the situation continues to unfold.
Similar weather conditions were reported on the island of Syros, adding to the widespread disruption across the Cyclades. The intensity and suddenness of the storm left many residents reeling, with widespread reports of damage and a community grappling with the aftermath of a weather event described as both rare and devastating for the region.
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