Two die as Storm Bora sweeps across Greece

Two men have died as torrential rains and gale-force winds cause flooding and damage across Greece.

More than 30cm of rain was reported to have fallen on the island of Rhodes – one of the first areas to be impacted by Storm Bora – since Saturday.

The deaths occurred on the island of Lemnos where flooding damaged roads and buildings and residents were asked to evacuate their homes, amid fears that a dam could overflow.

Damage has also been reported in Greece’s second-largest city of Thessaloniki on the mainland, with the rain and storms likely to affect the majority of the country in the hours to come, the National Meteorological Service of Greece said.

On Lemnos, the rural road network linking the villages of Kontias with Thanos and Agios Dimitris has been completely destroyed.

A 70-year-old man in Kontias died when he fell over as he tried to clear up his house. A 57-year-old farmer was found dead by firefighters after being reported missing by his family near a flooded dam close to the village.

According to police sources, he drowned after being swept away by rushing waters while trying to free his car, which had become stuck in mud within a stream.

Residents in Kontias were asked to evacuate their homes as there is a fear that the dam will overflow.

The situation on Rhodes was described as “dramatic” by residents.

A 24-hour ban on vehicle movement on the road network has been imposed on the island.

During the night, several people were trapped by rushing waters, after many roads became flooded.

The regional governor of Southern Aegean, Giorgos Hatzimarkos, said Rhodes had sustained “enormous damage”.

Many roads on the island are impassable, while bridges have collapsed in the Kallithea-Faliraki area.

The Mayor of Rhodes, Alexandros Koliadis, has submitted a request to the Greek government to declare the island as being in a state of emergency.

In Thessaloniki, the civil protection department has called on residents in the Pylaia and Chortiatis areas to limit their movements because of gale-force winds – gusts have reached more than 80km/h (50mph).

There have been power cuts in the area after strong winds and falling trees caused damage to the electricity grid. Power outages have also led to delays on the Thessaloniki-Athens railway line.

Meanwhile, a cargo ship moored in the port of Thessaloniki was swept away in the high winds, leading to a collision with another cargo ship, and damage to both vessels.

Forecasters say Storm Bora is likely to affect many parts of Greece until early on Tuesday.

In the coming hours, the conditions are expected to hit the northern Aegean region, central Macedonia, parts of Halkidiki, the prefecture of Thessaloniki, Imathia, Pieria, Thessaly and Larissa.