Cars have been swept away and streets submerged following torrential rainfall across Greece, with the holiday island of Rhodes among the worst-affected areas as Storm Agneta brings severe weather to the region.
Footage from Rhodes showed vehicles being carried along flooded roads as heavy rain transformed streets into fast-flowing rivers.
Several cars were also seen almost completely submerged beneath rising floodwaters.
The storm has affected western and northern Greece, as well as islands in the eastern Aegean. Severe weather conditions are expected to continue until Wednesday.
Residents and Tourists Warned to Seek Higher Ground
An emergency warning message was sent to residents and tourists overnight, instructing them to move to higher ground, find shelter and avoid going outside while the storm continued.
Schools across affected areas were closed on Monday as authorities responded to the worsening conditions.
Local media reported that some residents were forced to climb onto the roofs of their homes to escape rising floodwaters.
Firefighters have also received repeated emergency calls to remove water from properties affected by the flooding.
Heavy Rain Expected to Spread Across More Areas
Further rainfall is forecast for Monday, with the Ionian Islands and coastal areas of central Greece expected to experience particularly heavy downpours.
Thunderstorms have continued across parts of the country, prompting the civil protection agency to issue additional safety instructions.
Residents have been advised to secure loose objects around their properties and avoid attempting to cross streams or flooded waterways, whether on foot or in vehicles.
The agency also warned people against walking along coastal areas while the severe weather persists.
Rhodes Experienced Fatal Flooding in Previous Storm
The latest flooding comes only weeks after another powerful storm struck Greece, claiming the life of a 62-year-old man in Rhodes.
The man died when a torrent of water swept his vehicle onto a beach during heavy rainfall.
His body was subsequently discovered near a small seaside village approximately 19 miles from Rhodes town.
The coast guard also reported that four vehicles had been washed away during the severe weather.
Deadly Storms Also Cause Widespread Damage in Spain
The flooding in Greece follows another period of severe weather in Spain, where Storm Adam struck Mediterranean coastal areas last month, cutting off several towns.
The conditions brought back memories of the devastating floods that killed more than 230 people in Spain’s Valencia region two years ago.
Four people died during last month’s flooding.
Two bodies were recovered in the Valencian town of Oliva during rescue operations.
One victim was a 79-year-old woman found inside her home, while another was a man who suffered a fatal heart attack at a local campsite.
In Sagunto, another body was discovered washed up on a beach.
Firefighters also reported that a woman died after falling into a stream swollen by heavy rainfall in Cabrera de Mar, near Barcelona.
More Than 400 Rescues Carried Out in Valencia
Emergency and security personnel conducted more than 400 rescue operations across the Valencia region, using both aircraft and ground teams, according to government representative Pilar Bernabe.
In Els Poblets, northeast of Alicante, floodwaters left cars and vans piled on top of one another as residents attempted to recover belongings and salvage their damaged homes.
Residents in other affected Greek communities were also seen clearing mud from homes and courtyards following the flooding in South Pelion on October 29.
Aerial footage from Platanias showed damage caused by the rising water, while firefighters continued working in the affected areas.
Meteorologists have linked the increasing frequency and destructive nature of extreme weather events to human-driven climate change.
