Severe weather has caused extensive damage across parts of Greece, with the island of Lesvos hit particularly hard overnight. Torrential rain and powerful storms flooded roads, homes, and businesses, forcing local authorities to close schools and urge residents to stay indoors.

According to eyewitnesses, the Tsiknias River overflowed its banks, inundating the plain of Kalloni, one of the island’s low-lying areas. Water levels rose rapidly, submerging vehicles and yards, and in some places reached more than half a meter deep. Local reports described a “night of chaos,” as residents struggled to contain flooding that swept through homes and shops, damaging electrical appliances and stored goods.

Roads Cut Off, Vehicles Swept Away

Authorities suspended traffic in several parts of the road network, particularly between Kalloni–Skala Kallonis and Arisvi–Agia Paraskevi, where roads were transformed into fast-flowing streams. Some drivers were forced to abandon their cars after getting trapped in flooded areas.

Firefighters and municipal crews have been working since dawn to pump water from flooded buildings and restore access to cut-off roads. The Civil Protection Service of Western Lesvos has warned residents to avoid unnecessary movement and stay clear of flooded routes due to the risk of being trapped by rising water.

Calls for Flood Defenses After Repeated Disasters

Local residents have expressed frustration, saying that Lesvos’ topography—especially in Kalloni, where rivers converge into a flat basin—makes it highly vulnerable to extreme weather. Promised flood-prevention works announced after the 2022 floods remain unfinished, leaving the community exposed to repeated disasters.

Weather Alert Still in Effect

The Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY) has extended its severe weather warning for Tuesday, forecasting heavy rain and thunderstorms in several parts of the country. Strong storms are expected to continue through the morning in Thrace, the eastern Aegean islands, and the Dodecanese.

While weather conditions are expected to gradually improve later in the day, authorities remain on alert as Greece braces for further localized flooding and damage in vulnerable regions.