Torrential rain on Wednesday, October 28 turned roads on Skiathos into fast-flowing rivers and brought severe flooding t...

Torrential rain on Wednesday, October 28 turned roads on Skiathos into fast-flowing rivers and brought severe flooding to southern Pelion, with Greece's 112 emergency system sending residents a stark midday alert: "If you are in the Platanias area of the Magnesia Regional Unit, move to higher floors due to flooding." In southern Pelion, three streams overflowed at Platanias, submerging the roads leading to the small harbour, which was nearly covered by water entirely. The sea pushed onto the road at Milina, and in Horto the main road turned into a river carrying mud and debris through the village. Michalis Mitzikos, the mayor of southern Pelion, told public broadcaster ERT that water levels exceeded two metres at the peak of the storm. "It was an extremely severe weather event, a natural disaster. Fortunately, it lasted only a few hours," he said. On Skiathos, the Platanias stream rose dangerously and the road to Platanias was closed. Landslides on the road towards Koukounaries prompted police to ban traffic from the Acropolis area all the way through Vasilias, Achladies, Agia Paraskevi and Troulos. The road ban was lifted shortly after 18:30 on Wednesday evening as conditions eased. The rainfall totals recorded within just a few hours illustrate how intense the storm was. According to meteo.gr data, Portaria in Pelion logged 111.6mm of rain, Zagora recorded 104.4mm and Skiathos reached 102.2mm. Residents across the affected areas are now clearing mud and debris from homes, businesses and roads as authorities assess the damage from one of the most severe weather events to hit this part of central Greece in recent memory. #Skiathos #Pelion #Greece