Apocalyptic flash floods rip through Greek holiday islands leaving one dead as roads turn into rivers & cars swept away

6 comments 6 Next APOCALYPTIC flash floods ripped through Greek holiday hotspots leaving one dead as roads turned into rivers and cars were swept away. The 62-year-old was found dead off the coast of Rhodes after torrential downpours sent his vehicle hurtling into the sea. 8 Torrential rain sent vehicles hurtling towards the ocean Credit: Reuters 8 Flash floods ripped through Rhodes today Credit: EPA Advertisement Authorities declared an emergency on the popular tourist island as devastating floods wreaked havoc, stranding motorists and cutting off roads. The victim, a hotel worker, had reportedly gone to collect his car near Stegna beach in Archangelos when he was caught in the powerful torrent. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. Coastguard officers later discovered his lifeless body in the water after four vehicles were swept into the sea. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday as Greece was battered by its second wave of violent storms in just two weeks. READ MORE IN WORLD NEWS NEED TO KNOW Travel warning for winter sun destination as flights cancelled amid flooding RED ALERT Urgent Brit holiday warning as Greece braces for 60mph storm & torrential rains 8 Torrents of muddy water turned streets into rivers Credit: Unknown 8 The horrific weather has left at least one person dead Credit: Reuters Violent winds and relentless rain have been wreaking havoc across swathes of Greece . Seven regions were placed on Code Red alert, including Crete , Attica, Evia and the South Aegean. Advertisement Neighbouring Cyprus has also been slapped with an orange weather alert, warning of strong thunderstorms, gusty winds and possible hail. Pumping units have been deployed to areas where there is an increased risk of flooding. Most read in The Sun 'RUTHLESS' ‘He treated me like an animal’…Every claim made by 6 women at Brand 'rape' trial COOKER'S CACHE Brit soldier who had 'medieval' cannon & explosives at home is jailed THE SUN SAYS Healey risks costing thousands of jobs with punitive Budget raid on betting COLIN ROBERTSON West Ham for defence & Cabinet in the pub, inside Danny Dyer's bid for No10 8 The horror weather knocked down trees Credit: EPA 8 Cars were washed away in the severe deluge Credit: EPA But Rhodes was among the worst-hit areas, with a staggering 264mm of biblical rain recorded by early afternoon. Advertisement A whopping 202mm fell in just six-and-a-half hours, according to the National Observatory of Athens. Terrifying floods engulfed roads across the island, leaving dozens of cars stranded as rescue teams scrambled to help trapped motorists. Authorities issued an urgent emergency alert ordering residents and holidaymakers to restrict all but essential travel. 8 Shocking footage showed cars being swept under waves Credit: X 8 Pumping units have been deployed to areas where there is an increased risk of flooding Credit: X Advertisement The warning read: “Due to severe weather conditions in the Regional Unit of #Rodos, limit your movement to the absolutely necessary”. Rhodes mayor Alexandros Koliadis warned the situation was particularly serious as emergency teams battled the worsening conditions. In Archangelos, surging floodwaters tore through roads and split Stegna beach in two. A huge rockslide also smashed into a major road, damaging its surface and protective barriers, while a bridge was temporarily shut over safety fears. Elsewhere, lightning sparked a house fire in Ialyssos and knocked out a regional broadcaster’s electrical system. Advertisement The chaos forced schools to close across the Dodecanese and Cyclades islands, while bus services and tourist attractions were brought to a standstill. Rhodes’ famous Palace of the Grand Master and archaeological sites including Lindos were also shut as officials scrambled to protect visitors. Gale-force winds reaching up to 10 on the Beaufort scale wreaked havoc on ferry services, leaving travellers facing widespread cancellations. Sailings from the major ports of Piraeus and Lavrio were suspended until at least 3pm as dangerous conditions gripped the Aegean. On the island of Skiathos, raging torrents swept away cars, flooded businesses and tore up sections of road. Advertisement Mayor Thodoris Tzoumas revealed that up to 50 businesses and 20 homes had suffered damage as power cuts plunged parts of the island into darkness. He said: “The rain and winds continue. We are carrying out repairs to the main network, where we have some power outages. “We had some trees fall and two cars have been swept away, while schools are closed. The phenomenon seems to be subsiding.” Meanwhile, residents in Evia were ordered to flee towards Psachna after the Kireas River burst its banks, severing a major road connection. Emergency alerts also urged people across the island to avoid unnecessary journeys as the deluge continued. Advertisement In another dramatic incident, two people were rescued after their sailing boat ran aground near the island of Peristera amid powerful winds. Greece’s Civil Protection Ministry warned that dangerous conditions could persist into Wednesday evening, with further heavy downpours and violent gusts forecast. The deadly storm comes just weeks after devastating floods tore through Crete, destroying infrastructure, crops and livestock. A 79-year-old shepherd was found dead on the island during the earlier weather disaster. RECOMMENDED STORIES A 58-year-old German tourist was also killed after being struck by lightning on a beach in Rhodes. Advertisement Authorities remain on high alert as emergency teams battle the aftermath of the latest deadly deluge. 6 comments 6