Storm destroys bridges and damages homes in Greek island of Rhodes

By Reuters

December 3, 2024 at 1:00:02 PM

A drone view shows a man standing near a damaged hotel, following floods caused by Storm Bora, in Faliraki, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, December 2, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

Stasinos Diamadis, 58, cleans a balcony from mud in the popular Greek tourist island resort, as the Storm Bora pounded the country for a second day causing floods in Ialysos, Island of Rhodes, Greece December 1, 2024.REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

A drone view shows a damaged bridge following floods cause by Storm Bora, in Faliraki, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, December 2, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

A drone view shows a damaged bridge following floods caused by Storm Bora, in Faliraki, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, December 2, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

Sofia Kanelli, 46, and Nikolaos Savas, 51, embrace after torrential rains flooded their home and destroyed their cars in the popular Greek tourist resort as Storm Bora pounded the country for a second day causing floods in Ialysos, Island of Rhodes, Greece December 1, 2024.REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

Locals try to save their belongings in the popular Greek tourist resort, as the Storm Bora pounded the country for a second day causing floods in Ialysos, Island of Rhodes, Greece December 1, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

People walk in a mud covered street after Storm Bora pounded the country for a second day causing floods in Ialysos, Island of Rhodes, Greece December 1, 2024.REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

A drone view shows a damaged bridge following floods cause by Storm Bora, in Faliraki, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, December 2, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

A drone view shows a man standing near a damaged hotel, following floods caused by Storm Bora, in Faliraki, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, December 2, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

A drone view shows a damaged bridge following floods caused by Storm Bora, in Faliraki, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, December 2, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

A drone view shows a damaged bridge following floods cause by Storm Bora, in Faliraki, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, December 2, 2024. REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

People walk in a mud covered street after Storm Bora pounded the country for a second day causing floods in Ialysos, Island of Rhodes, Greece December 1, 2024.REUTERS/Stelios Misinas

FALIRAKI, Greece (Reuters) - Homes, businesses and roads in the Greek tourist island of Rhodes were covered in mud and debris on Monday after Storm Bora battered the country over the weekend.

In the resort of Faliraki the flooding caused by torrential rains destroyed a bridge, caused chasms to open up in the ground and damaged homes and shops on the coast, Reuters drone footage showed.

In the village of Tsairi, a bridge also collapsed, cutting off residents from the main roads.

"The bridge is broken in two, and there is no other road that is easily accessible, either by car or on foot, to reach the main road and go anywhere," local resident Flora Drapanou, 31, said.

The fire brigade has deployed aerial units, sending 35 firefighters from Athens with pumping equipment and two rescue boats. In addition, 40 firefighters with 10 vehicles have arrived by sea from Piraeus to support the relief efforts.

On Saturday, a 57-year-old man on the island of Limnos, in the northern Aegean, was swept away by strong currents while trying to free his car, the fire brigade said.

The islands of Rhodes and Limnos have declared a state of emergency.

The Mediterranean country has been ravaged by floods and wildfires in recent years, with scientists saying that Greece has become a "hot spot" for climate change.

In 2023, more than 20,000 tourist and locals were forced to flee homes and seaside hotels as wildfires burned for days.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain also interrupted train services in mainland Greece, especially in the centre and north of the country.

(Reporting by Stelios Misinas, Writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Alison Williams)

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