Crete: Severe weather leaves incalculable damage – Government delegation heads to the island

Severe weather has left significant damage across Crete in recent hours, with torrential rainfall causing flooding, damage to infrastructure and serious problems for the agricultural and livestock sectors.

The scale of the destruction has prompted the mobilisation of the state apparatus, with an expanded government delegation expected to arrive on the island this morning. Its aim is to carry out an on-site assessment of the situation, record the damage and examine the next steps for restoring the affected areas.

A meeting will be held at the Region of Crete headquarters, attended by the relevant authorities and representatives of local government, focusing on assessing the situation, recording the damage and coordinating measures to address the consequences of the severe weather.

The government delegation will then visit the affected areas of Mylopotamos, Ierapetra and the Lasithi Plateau in order to be briefed on the ground about the situation and the needs that have arisen.

The government delegation will include Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Dimas and Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas, Deputy Ministers of Rural Development and Food Giannis Andrianos and Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Kostas Katsafados, as well as the Secretary General for Natural Disaster Recovery and State Aid, Petros Kampouris.

Schools closed in the Municipality of Amari

The effects of the severe weather have also disrupted the operation of schools. For safety reasons, in-person classes have been suspended at all primary and secondary schools in the Municipality of Amari.

The decision is part of precautionary measures being taken until the problems subside and safe travel conditions can be ensured for students, teachers and parents.

More than 500 calls to the Fire Service

A total of 508 calls were received by the Fire Service Operations Centre from the beginning of the severe weather in the Region of Crete, specifically from Thursday, October 1, 2026, through yesterday, Sunday, October 4, 2026.

According to the Fire Service, interventions were carried out in 214 cases, including 103 water-pumping operations, 101 transfers of people to safe locations, seven tree-cutting operations, one animal rescue and two removals of objects.

Lasithi Plateau turned into a “lake” – Major destruction in Zoniana

The Lasithi Plateau is among the areas hardest hit. The huge amounts of rainfall resulted in extensive accumulations of water and mud, transforming the landscape within just a few hours.

The intensity of the phenomenon is reflected in the volume of rainfall. According to estimates, within a very short period of time, an amount of water fell approaching what Attica receives over approximately two years.

The unprecedented accumulation of water created extremely difficult conditions, with attention now focused both on recording the destruction and on restoring access and infrastructure in areas where serious problems have been caused.

The images from Zoniana are equally nightmarish, where the local river overflowed, while torrents of water, mud and debris blocked streams.

The village roads were transformed into raging torrents, while residents were forced to demolish bridges and break down retaining walls along streams in order to allow the water to escape.

Retaining walls along the riverbanks have collapsed, while the road has suffered subsidence. Houses, courtyards and pavements were swept away by the floodwaters, amid efforts to prevent even greater destruction should the river enter the village.

The situation on the slopes of Psiloritis is also disheartening, where dozens of animals were swept away by raging waters while grazing and were later found dead.

The torrential rain caused extensive destruction, with landslides and severe damage to rural roads in the mountainous areas of Zoniana, making access to many locations impossible.

Heavy losses in crops and livestock

Particular concern surrounds the scale of the damage to primary production. Farmland has been flooded, leaving producers facing significant losses.

Problems have also been recorded in livestock farming, with the consequences extending to livestock populations. A full picture is expected to emerge once inspections and damage assessments in the affected areas have been completed.

For people working in the primary sector, the coming period is considered critical, as in addition to the immediate destruction, the possible long-term impact on production will also have to be assessed.

According to ERT, farmers, producers and their representatives are expected to demand measures similar to those introduced after Storm Daniel — namely fast-track procedures, initial financial assistance and compensation — so they can cope with the difficult months ahead, given that autumn has only just begun.

Eight people remain stranded in the Samaria Gorge

Concern remains over the eight people stranded in the Samaria Gorge, as the continuing rainfall still prevents rescue teams from safely approaching and evacuating them.

As long as the rain continues, the water level and the flow of the stream that has formed inside the National Park cannot subside. The rescue operation is expected to begin as soon as the weather conditions ease and the water starts to recede.

According to the latest information, those stranded are experienced hikers, while a doctor is among them and they have medicines and the necessary supplies at their disposal.

They also have access to a telephone, the internet and satellite communications. The instructions they have received are clear: under no circumstances should they attempt to leave their current location while the water flow remains dangerous.

The plan is for them to wait until it becomes safe to approach them. Once the water level falls, a team is expected to set out from the Xyloskalo area, approach those stranded and then escort them safely out of the gorge.