Severe weather has been easing in Crete since midday, with thirty people moved out of their homes for fear of flooding

Many parts of Crete are still going through dramatic hours, as torrents of water leave behind damaged infrastructure, cut-off settlements and enormous losses to agricultural production. In Zoniana, around 30 people were moved out of their homes as a precaution, while 2,500 residents of Zoniana, Livadia and Krana have been left without water. Meanwhile, on the Lasithi Plateau, farmers are facing destruction that, according to initial estimates, exceeds 80% of potato and vegetable crops.

Around 30 residents evacuated

The situation remains particularly difficult in mountainous Mylopotamos, centred on Zoniana, where the state machinery is on full alert.

According to neakriti.gr, around 30 people were moved out of their homes as a precaution, as huge volumes of water are putting severe pressure on the area. Concern is focused on the parapets lining the river channel, with water levels showing no sign of falling while the rain continues.

At the same time, the structural stability of two houses is being assessed, as the raging waters have reached their foundations.

The water supply network has also been badly hit, leaving around 2,500 residents of Zoniana, Livadia and Krana without water.

The vast volumes of water coming down from the mountains swept away and destroyed the network from the Apladiana area upwards. Under current conditions, there is no reliable estimate of when repair work can begin.

The HNMS forecast

According to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS), Crete and the Dodecanese can expect cloud with rain and isolated thunderstorms until midday. The rain will be heavy at times in Crete until the early morning hours, and in the southernmost parts of the Dodecanese until midday.

Elsewhere in the country, the weather will be generally fair with a few clouds, temporarily increasing over the eastern mainland and Evia, where a few local showers are expected until midday.

Winds in the west will be variable, force 3 to 4, becoming northerly and temporarily reaching force 5 in the Ionian. In the east, north-easterlies of force 5 to 7 will blow, reaching force 8 locally in the Aegean until the morning.

Temperatures will rise slightly across the eastern mainland, reaching 24 to 27C in the west and north, and 22 to 25C elsewhere.