Lightning strike kills German tourist on Rhodes, storm devastates Crete and Aegean
Quick Look
- A 58-year-old German tourist was killed by lightning in Rhodes and her husband was slightly injured.
- A shepherd drowned in Crete due to heavy rain.
- The Aegean region is experiencing severe storms with up to 500 liters of rain per square meter, destroyed infrastructure and disrupted ferry traffic.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Aegean region is often exposed to severe storms in autumn. The combination of heavy rain, thunderstorms and wind leads to flooding and danger to people and infrastructure.
An autumn storm and heavy rainfall are keeping Crete and numerous Aegean islands in suspense. A 58-year-old German tourist was struck by lightning and killed in Rhodes. Her husband was slightly injured. The accident occurred in the Lindos area in the south of the island. Greek media reported this unanimously, citing the police.
The couple were on holiday in Rhodes and had previously bathed in the sea. As the two of them were walking along the beach, lightning struck the woman. The 58-year-old lost consciousness and had no pulse when emergency services arrived, as the news portal Rodiaki.gr reported.
Shepherd drowned in Crete
Meanwhile, on Crete, a shepherd in the mountainous hinterland was caught in the water and drowned, according to the local fire department. According to the Greek Meteorological Service (EMY), the severe weather situation with heavy rain and thunderstorms is expected to last until Sunday. “The danger is not over,” warned a meteorologist on Greek radio.
500 liters of rain per square meter
According to the latest information from the weather service, around 500 liters of water per square meter were measured in Rethymno within 24 hours. On the coast, cars were washed into the sea and bridges and roads were destroyed, as local media reported. The ground is already saturated in many places. This increases the risk of further floods and landslides, warned civil defense.
Ferry traffic affected
Ferry traffic is also partially affected due to strong winds. Most ferries remained in port on Friday, according to Greek broadcaster ERTNews. Wind gusts of up to 100 kilometers per hour were measured in the Aegean Sea. There remains a heightened state of alert in Crete. More heavy rain is expected, the civil defense said.
Open Questions
- Will the damage to infrastructure be fully recorded?
- Are there any other missing or injured people besides the cases mentioned?
- How long is the severe weather situation expected to last?
