Greece floods batter popular tourist island and force state of emergency

Man dies as flash floods batter popular tourist island and force state of emergency Authorities have declared a state of emergency across Rhodes, and schools on the island will remain closed tomorrow Sign up to the World News Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us A hotel worker has been killed on the Greek island of Rhodes after flash floods swept his vehicle onto a beach during a ferocious rainstorm. Coastguard officers recovered the 62-year-old's body in Stegna, a coastal village roughly 20 miles south of Rhodes Town. He reportedly tried to retrieve his car near the beach in Archangelos when surging floodwaters caught him. Four vehicles in total were dragged into the sea by the torrent, with firefighters and coastguard personnel searching the shoreline. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Authorities have declared a state of emergency across Rhodes, and schools on the island will remain closed tomorrow for inspections and damage assessments. Rhodes bore the brunt of the storm, with the National Observatory of Athens recording 202mm of rain in just six and a half hours, reaching 264mm by early afternoon. Emergency services responded to more than 100 distress calls, carried out 13 evacuations, and performed 64 water-pumping operations across the island. Roads in Ialysos, Faliraki, Afandou and Archangelos were submerged, leaving dozens of cars stranded. A hotel worker has been killed on the Greek island of Rhodes after flash floods swept his vehicle onto a beach during a ferocious rainstorm | REUTERS A massive rockslide blocked the Archangelos-Malona road, damaging the surface and safety barriers, while a bridge was temporarily closed. Lightning struck a house in Ialysos, sparking a fire, and knocked out a regional broadcaster's electrical system. Major tourist attractions including the Palace of the Grand Master and the archaeological site at Lindos were closed. Ferry departures from Piraeus and Lavrio were suspended as gale-force winds hit force 10 on the Beaufort scale. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Child among six dead after horror plane crash as police launch investigation World's oldest shipwreck dating back to the Great Pyramid found off coast of Turkey Two children among four dead after fire rips through home in Ireland as murder probe launched Coastguard officers recovered the 62-year-old's body in Stegna, a coastal village roughly 20 miles south of Rhodes Town | REUTERS Beyond Rhodes, the storm inflicted significant damage on other Greek islands. On Skiathos, floodwaters carried away cars, inundated businesses, and ripped up stretches of road, affecting as many as 50 commercial premises and 20 homes. Skiathos mayor Thodoris Tzoumas 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." On Evia, the Kireas River burst its banks, severing a key road link and prompting evacuation orders directing residents towards Psachna. Four vehicles in total were dragged into the sea by the torrent, with firefighters and coastguard personnel searching the shoreline | REUTERS Code red weather alerts were issued across seven regions, encompassing Crete, Attica, Evia and the South Aegean. Cyprus has also been placed under an orange weather warning, with forecasters alerting residents to the risk of severe thunderstorms, strong gusts and hail. The deadly weather marks Greece's second bout of devastating storms in a fortnight. Weeks earlier, floods ravaged Crete, destroying infrastructure, crops and livestock, and a 79-year-old shepherd was found dead. A 58-year-old German tourist also lost his life after being struck by lightning on a Rhodes beach. Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas confirmed the storms had caused widespread destruction nationwide, including toppled trees, flooding and power cuts across multiple regions. Greece's national meteorological service expected conditions to ease by Thursday, though authorities remained on high alert. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter World News Pope Leo issues first statement after cancer operation as he thanks families World News France doubles riot police presence on northern beaches in latest bid to stop small boat crossings World News Pope Leo diagnosed with lung cancer, Vatican confirms World News Nuremberg Airport suspends all flights as fighter jets escort passenger plane amid 'in-flight emergency' World News Roman Catholic Church blesses AI-generated icon of 'millennial saint' in historic first World News Israel flight receives 'bomb threat' just weeks after 'jihadist' hijack attempt Exclusive World News Britain capable of defending Falkland Islands 'against any Argentinian military action', say defence sources World News Hundreds of French fridges hacked in nationwide cyber attack sparking fires and spoiling food World News North Korea fires deadly ballistic missiles towards Japan sparking 'strong condemnation' World News Travel warning issued to Britons visiting Saudi Arabia amid 'deadliest terror attack in a decade' Exclusive World News Falkland Islands residents subjected to 'cyber attacks and abusive phone calls' by Argentinians World News Horror France school shooting leaves headmistress and teacher wounded as student, 14, arrested World News Russia blitzes Ukrainian power plant in bombing raid just hours after Donald Trump declared ceasefire World News Hundreds of migrants dead after boat collapses in 'devastating loss of life' World News Donald Trump announces 'immediate' ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine but Volodymyr Zelensky responds: 'That's news to me!' World News Volodymyr Zelensky vows to stop Russia strikes and hold election in Ukraine on one condition World News Pope Leo, 71, to undergo emergency surgery in days after 'early-stage diagnosis' World News At least 12 killed as Houthis bomb Riyadh airport in Saudi Arabia as US considers military action World News Flydubai hijacker became 'radicalised' while living in Australia, UAE says World News Vladimir Putin left 'stuck on plane' as Ukraine launches blitz on Moscow World News Student riots spread across EU as hundreds clash with Belgian police in Brussels World News Nobel Peace Prize awarded to judge who ruled Israel committed genocide in Gaza World News Hitler Mussolini wins mayoral election in South America World News Britain issues ultimatum to Israel with demand to reopen Jerusalem consulate World News Royal Navy nuclear submarine fleet can only use fire hoses against Vladimir Putin drone attack World News Houthis attack Middle East airport as hundreds of flights cancelled and Saudis prepare to 'punish' terror group World News Spanish woman, 87, dies after her forced eviction sparked nationwide protests World News Naked Donald Trump statue named 'Orange Plague' unveiled outside European Parliament building World News British consulate in Jerusalem shuts with more than 20 diplomats forced to leave Israel World News Signs removed from British consulate in Jerusalem as Israel's shutdown order expires