Two die as Storm Bora sweeps across Greece
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This photograph shows cars piled on top of each other in the city of Rhodes after heavy rainfall, on the Greek island of Rhodes, on December 1, 2024. (Photo by STRINGER / Eurokinissi / AFP)
Two men have tragically lost their lives as Storm Bora sweeps across Greece, bringing severe weather, torrential rainfall, and gale-force winds that have caused widespread flooding and significant damage. The storm, which began impacting the country on Saturday, has left several areas struggling with intense weather conditions.
On the island of Rhodes, one of the first places affected, more than 30 centimeters of rain have fallen since the storm started, severely impacting infrastructure and communities. The island of Lemnos, another hard-hit area, has also experienced major flooding. Roads and buildings have been damaged, and local authorities have urged residents to evacuate their homes due to the risk of a dam overflow.
The National Meteorological Service of Greece reports that the storm is expected to continue affecting most parts of the country in the coming hours, including areas like Thessaloniki, the second-largest city in Greece, and several others across the mainland.
In Lemnos, the rural road network connecting the villages of Kontias, Thanos, and Agios Dimitris has been completely destroyed by the flooding. Tragically, the storm claimed the lives of two men on the island. A 70-year-old man from Kontias died after he fell while trying to clean his home, which had been affected by the floodwaters. A second victim, a 57-year-old farmer, was found dead near a flooded dam close to the village. His family had reported him missing, and firefighters later discovered that he had drowned after being swept away by the rushing waters while attempting to free his car from a stream.
As the floodwaters continued to rise, authorities in Kontias issued evacuation orders for residents, fearing that the dam could breach. The situation in Rhodes was also dire, with locals describing it as “dramatic.” A 24-hour ban on vehicle movement has been imposed to prevent accidents, as many roads on the island became impassable due to the floods. In addition, several bridges have collapsed, particularly in the Kallithea-Faliraki area, making transportation nearly impossible.
The regional governor of the Southern Aegean, Giorgos Hatzimarkos, confirmed that Rhodes had sustained “enormous damage” due to the storm. The Mayor of Rhodes, Alexandros Koliadis, has requested that the Greek government declare the island a state of emergency, as the extent of the damage has overwhelmed local resources.
In Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, the storm’s powerful winds have caused widespread disruptions. The civil protection department has advised residents in the Pylaia and Chortiatis areas to limit movement due to gusts exceeding 80 km/h (50 mph). Strong winds and falling trees have led to power outages in the region, while the electricity grid has suffered significant damage. Additionally, these power cuts have delayed train services on the Thessaloniki-Athens railway line.
The storm’s impact was also felt in the port of Thessaloniki, where a cargo ship was swept away by high winds. This led to a collision with another cargo ship, resulting in damage to both vessels. As the storm continues to move across the country, forecasters warn that it will affect more regions, including the northern Aegean, central Macedonia, parts of Halkidiki, Thessaloniki’s prefectures, Imathia, Pieria, Thessaly, and Larissa.
The Greek Meteorological Service has predicted that Storm Bora will continue to wreak havoc until at least early Tuesday, with rainfall and powerful winds expected to impact a wide swath of the country. As rescue teams continue their efforts to assist those affected, the full extent of the storm’s damage will become clearer in the coming days.
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