A huge storm battered the Greek islands of Paros and Mykonos on Monday, causing widespread flooding. Floodwaters surged through the streets of Parikia and Naousa on Paros, carrying cars and debris past whitewashed buildings.
Video footage shot by eyewitnesses and posted to social media channels shows torrents of brown-coloured water coursing through the streets of Naousa. Stricken cars can be seen turned upside down and floating in the water, as well as smashed up against one another. Drone footage also shows the extent of the floods, with most of the town’s main roads submerged under water.
Firefighters on Paros rescued 13 people stranded by the storm and took them to their homes.
Authorities said that currently no one has been reported injured or missing, and that clean-up operations are continuing.
Emergency service workers had to use excavators on Mykonos, which was less affected by the storm, to clear a path for floodwater, which gushed past seafront cafes and restaurants.
Schools on Paros, Mykonos and two other Aegean Sea islands were ordered to remain closed on Tuesday.
The civil protection service also sent cell phone alerts to residents, instructing them to stay indoors.
Municipal crews and private contractors were drafted in to help clear up the mess left by the floods.
They worked clear roads blocked by fallen rocks, while emergency services rescued stranded motorists.
Several islands near Paros, in the Cyclades group, which is southeast of the mainland in the Aegean Sea, remained under severe weather warnings through Tuesday.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to continue until Wednesday morning, according to the National Meteorological Service.
Areas affected by the bad weather include the Ionian Islands, mainland regions, Macedonia, Thrace, the Aegean Sea, and Attica.
Residents in these areas were urged to remain vigilant and follow official safety guidelines amid the storm.