Extreme flooding hits Crete, Greece

A powerful storm hit the Greek island of Crete on October 15, 2022, causing flash floods described by the Greek Fire Department as extreme.

Preliminary figures show 239 mm (9.4 inches) of rain fell in Sitia and 142.7 mm (5.6 inches) in Heraklion in 24 hours to early October 16.

The rain caused rivers to overflow in a number of areas, damaging buildings, turning roads into raging rivers and sweeping dozens of cars into the sea.

At least 2 people lost their lives while several remain missing.

The Greek Fire Department described the floods as ‘extreme’ and added they received 453 calls for help in just one hour.

Some 30 people were evacuated, including 9 from an archeological site in Sitia.

The same weather system impacted Sicily, Italy on October 13:

Severe flash floods hit Sicily, Italy

On13 oct.a disturbance has afflicted Sicily. On15 developed into tropical disturbance over #Crete with devastating floods.On16th the system was sheared but today the convection seems close to center like a tropical depression @Medicane_Centre @JointCyclone @medcyclones #medicane pic.twitter.com/6x3F5BaXO8

— daniele_Bianchino (@PrometheiPlanum) October 17, 2022

Featured image credit: NDTV (stillshot)