Torrential Rain and Violent Seas Kill Two as Floods and Storms Batter Athens and the Greek Islands

Rain Came Fast, Then Everything Changed

In Athens, Greece, streets filled within minutes as torrents of water rushed downhill, spilling into homes and shops. Cars stalled. Underpasses disappeared beneath muddy water. Sirens echoed through neighborhoods as firefighters raced from one flooded building to the next.

By the end of the day, emergency crews had received hundreds of calls. Pumps ran nonstop. Water kept coming.

Two Lives Lost in Different Ways

The storm claimed two lives, each in a different setting, both caught by the force of water.

In Glyfada, Greece, a woman was killed when a car swept up by flash floods struck her. The vehicle had been lifted and pushed by rushing water, turning an ordinary street into a deadly channel.

Hours earlier, along the coast of Peloponnese, Greece, the sea itself turned violent. A coast guard officer was washed away while working in a harbor.
“He fell into the sea while he was trying to tie up a small boat in the harbour," a coast guard official said.

The rain and the waves were separate threats. Both proved fatal.

City Services Overwhelmed

Across Athens and other regions, daily routines collapsed. Roads were blocked. Traffic crawled or stopped entirely. Some streets became impassable, filled curb to curb with water.

Fire brigade crews worked through the night, pumping water from basements and ground floors. Local media reported damage to buildings and businesses, while authorities urged residents to stay away from low-lying areas.

The storm was not finished.

Schools Shut Down for a Second Day

As conditions remained dangerous, schools across Greece stayed closed for a second consecutive day. In some places, buildings did not open at all. In others, classes began later than usual.

Closures affected areas including:

• Kalamos of Oropos
• Mandra in Ilia, Domokos and Makrakomi
• Rhodes, Western Lesvos and Mytilene
• Western and Eastern Samos, Lemnos, Chios and Oinousses

In Lamia, Kastoria, Argos Orestiko, Agrafa and the Municipality of Prespes, schools opened at 9:00 a.m. In Florina, the bell rang at 9:15 a.m. Parents were advised to monitor local announcements closely.

Storm Shifts Toward the Islands

Meteorologists warned that the most intense weather was moving east. The northeastern Aegean, the Dodecanese and the Cyclades were expected to take the brunt of the storm through Thursday, January 22.

Heavy rain was forecast to continue. Strong thunderstorms were likely. Authorities stressed that these regions faced the highest danger from flooding and travel disruption.

Violent Winds Over the Aegean

Wind became a growing concern. Southeasterly gusts over the eastern Aegean were forecast to reach 8 to 10 on the Beaufort scale, powerful enough to disrupt ferry services and create hazardous conditions along the coast.

Maritime officials warned of delays and cancellations. Coastal travel became risky. The sea was no longer calm.

Rhodes Hit Head-On

By Wednesday evening, the storm reached Rhodes, Greece. Videos posted online showed seawater spilling over coastal roads near the port, waves breaking higher than usual.

A passenger vessel struggled to dock as wind and rough seas pushed against it. The harbor was alive with motion. Water surged. The storm tightened its grip.

Authorities continued to urge caution, warning residents and travelers to avoid unnecessary movement and stay alert as Greece endured one of its most disruptive weather events in recent days.