The storm that swept through the Cyclades left nothing standing in the “showcases” of Greek tourism. Paros and Mykonos, two of the country’s most popular destinations, were trapped in chaos left behind by a storm with characteristics of a tropical weather phenomenon.

In Paros, from early afternoon, the sky darkened and it didn’t take long for the rain to turn roads into raging torrents. Naoussa and Kolymbithres were at the epicenter: flooding, debris, mud, and cars swept away by the waters painted a scene of biblical disaster.

For hours, traffic on major roads was impossible, as streams overflowed, roads were split in two, and rocks broke off hillsides, making even access for emergency crews extremely difficult. The Fire Department’s operations center was flooded with calls, while the presence of the police, Civil Protection, and Fire Brigade remained strong throughout the day, on high alert.

A helicopter carrying EMAK personnel was dispatched to the island but was unable to land due to the extreme weather. In the afternoon, residents were alerted by a 112 message to avoid all movement, as the weather phenomena were classified as dangerous and out of control. At the same time, it was decided that all schools on the island would remain closed today, Tuesday.

A few hours later, Mykonos followed the same path. Hail and rain lashed the island of the winds, causing similar scenes of chaos. Roads turned into rivers and a strict 112 alert instructed residents to avoid using the road network.

The torrential waters swept away cars, which became trapped in the island’s narrow alleys. In several areas, water levels exceeded one meter, turning roads into rivers and making it impossible for vehicles and pedestrians to pass. Dozens of residents were forced to stay trapped in their homes, unable to leave, while authorities received a barrage of emergency calls for help.

The skies also opened over Syros, while on mainland Greece, the Corinth–Tripoli highway turned white after a fierce hailstorm covered the road, forcing dozens of drivers to stop under bridges for shelter.

The emergency weather bulletin from the National Meteorological Service (EMY) remains in effect, with the severe weather system moving toward the Sporades, Thessaly, the Dodecanese, and Crete. However, the wounds left in the Cyclades—especially in Paros and Mykonos—will take time to heal.

Tsatrafyllias: “If it rained during Easter in Paros and Mykonos like it did today, what would happen?”
With a concerning but entirely realistic scenario, meteorologist Giorgos Tsatrafyllias highlights the serious risks posed by extreme weather phenomena, especially when combined with the lack of preparedness and infrastructure on the Greek islands.

Prompted by Monday’s heavy rainfall in Paros and Mykonos—occurring outside the tourist season—the experienced meteorologist raised the following hypothetical but entirely plausible scenario:

“In a few days, we’re celebrating Easter, and Paros and Mykonos are expected to be packed with people. If today’s rainfall occurred then (which is not unlikely), what would happen?” he asks pointedly.

According to him, the volume of water that fell on the two islands was impressive and indicative of the intensity of the phenomena:

“In just a few hours, Paros received nearly a month’s worth of rain, while Mykonos got twice the amount that usually falls during all of March,” he notes in his comments to protothema.gr.

Giorgos Tsatrafyllias stresses that in such a hypothetical scenario, even issuing alerts via 112 would not be enough to effectively protect the population without proper infrastructure and training:
“112 on its own is not enough when people are untrained in dealing with natural disasters, let alone when there’s no infrastructure adapted to the new reality!” he warns.