Greek islands Paros and Mykonos were hit with a severe storm on Monday, March 31, which triggered widespread flooding across the islands.
The Cyclades region, including the Greek islands of Paros, Mykonos, and Syros, is currently under a red alert due to relentless thunderstorms and downpours which has lead to severe floods. This has caused authorities to close schools and impose a ban on all traffic except emergency vehicles.
The storm first hit Paros on Monday, which caused flooding bad enough to sweep away debris and vehicles into the roads, before moving on to the other island.
While the flooding was less intense on the popular tourist island Mykonos, locals were still issued with a movement ban through emergency alerts.
People have taken to social media to warn people about coming to the islands, while also showing the state in which the storm left the island.
In the videos, brown water is seen flooding past the well-known white and blue houses as it made its way down the narrow roads. Temporary waterfalls were also seen flushing down the cliffs on the islands.
“It’s a long way down bro,” one video said, showing a flood of water flushing down a cliff close to a residential house, which saw a man leaning over a balcony to look at the water.
In a second video, a man was seen standing on top of an open bar counter with a broom, seemingly trying to prevent flooding, as the water flushed past him on the outside.
The video then cut to a car was seen having crashed into a staircase as the water, which almost reached the windows of the car, continued to flush past it.
On Mykonos, excavators were used to clear a path for the floodwater as it surged past seafront cafes and restaurants that are usually filled with locals and tourists.
According to Euro News, The National Meteorological Service has issued warnings that the heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue until Wednesday morning. The most affected areas of the storm will be the Ionian Islands, mainland regions, Macedonia, Thrace, the Aegean Sea, and Attica.
Residents and tourists in affected areas are urged to remain vigilant and follow official safety guidelines amid the still ongoing storm.
If you are planning a holiday to Mykonos or Pyros, it is recommended to stay up to date on the situation by listening to any guidelines that are set into place as the flooding continues.
