Galery

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The search for the two men who have been missing for two days after the unprecedented downpour that fell over the island of Rhodes still has no result. Yesterday, the bodies of two women were found. One of them was that of a 40 year-old native of Cyprus who drowned after flood waters of the river swept away the bridge, over which she was walking. The other was that of a 27-year old teacher at a local school, who was in a car on her way home after work with two colleagues, when turbulent waters swept the car away. The 63-year-old husband of the 40-year-old woman from Cyprus is still missing, as well as one of the two colleagues with whom the 27-year-old teacher was travelling – a 53-year-old English teacher. The third passenger in the car managed to escape by a miracle and was rescued.

Locals claim that they have never seen such a disaster in their life. It is also surprising that the Greek National Weather Service failed to predict the severity of the storm.

Hundreds of houses in the region of the villages of Yalisou and Iksias are without water; the entire island was without electricity for many hours. Rhodes is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece. Local hotels are providing free shelter to their fellow citizens who are in trouble.

The fire service has received more than 300 calls for help - at least in 40 cases for saving lives. Army units are also located on the island, where a state of emergency has been declared. They are assisting in the search for the missing people and in the restoration of the normal rhythm of life.

In a press statement, deputy governor of the southern Aegean islands Fotis Hadzidiakos explained that a plan for sewerage and drainage of the villages of Yalisou and Kremastis existed, but due to lengthy procedures for the expropriation of property, the plan had been blocked for years.