Crete Flooded: Farmer Dead, Park Workers Stranded

Crete is experiencing severe flooding due to five consecutive days of intense rain and thunderstorms, leading to a tragic death and stranded individuals. An 80-year-old farmer was found dead in Karines, Rethymno, while eight employees of the National Park remain stranded in the Samaria Gorge, awaiting rescue.

The island's infrastructure has been heavily impacted, with roads destroyed and rural areas suffering extensive damage. In the mountainous regions, particularly the Lasithi Plateau, rainfall has been extreme, with some areas receiving approximately 440 millimetres in just two days, significantly exceeding normal annual averages. The Aposelemis dam has also seen a substantial increase in its water reserves.

Authorities have responded to hundreds of calls for assistance, including pump-outs and transfers of people to safety. The European Union's Copernicus Emergency Management Service has been activated to map the flooded areas using satellite imagery, aiding in damage assessment and recovery planning. A government delegation is set to visit the affected areas to coordinate recovery efforts.