Flash floods hit the Greek island of Rhodes on Monday morning. Water swept away 60 cars, dozens of homes and shops are flooded, and schools in four municipal districts are shut, Greek authorities said.
The storm also hit the islands of Kalymnos and Samos, and the Volos area in central Greece. Rain eased by Monday morning, but more showers and storms are expected.
The worst-hit place is the village of Archangelos on Rhodes's east coast. The river burst its banks and streets turned into streams. Dozens of homes and shops are damaged, and the total cost is still being assessed.
In the town of Afantou, also on the east coast, and in villages in the south of the island, roads are under water. Traffic has stopped in several places, including Kolymbia, Kalathos and Archangelos.
At about 3:30am the 112 emergency number sent out a warning asking people to limit travel and follow the instructions of the authorities. Residents were urged to avoid any journey that is not absolutely necessary.
Schools in the municipal districts of Archangelos, Afantou, Lindos and South Rhodes are closed as a precaution. Firefighters, local officials and volunteers are clearing debris, pumping out water and reopening roads.
The fire service command centre has taken 58 emergency calls from Rhodes, Kalymnos, Samos and the Volos area. Of these, 18 came from the Dodecanese, including Rhodes and Kalymnos, 28 from Samos and 12 from the Volos area.
In the Agios Vasileios area of Kalymnos, a huge boulder broke off a slope and fell on a garage with a parked car inside.
On Samos, crews had to pump out water in 10 cases. In the village of IrAion on the east coast, a stream burst its banks and flooded houses and other buildings. There, 9 fire engines and 20 soldiers, together with municipal teams, are pumping out basements and clearing debris.
In the coastal town of Nea Anchialos near Volos, streets turned into rivers. The water damaged the water pipes, sewers and street lighting, and the town has had no running water since Sunday afternoon. The local water company says supply will return during the day on Monday.
In the Volos area, firefighters carried out 12 call-outs and removed 2 fallen trees.
On 14 October, in the Stegna area next to Rhodes, a 62-year-old worker died after being swept away by rising water.
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