Reuters — Greece declared a state of emergency on the island of Symi on Tuesday after a sudden downpour swept cars into the sea, damaged homes and cut off electricity and water supplies.
“The first daylight in Symi revealed the widespread disaster caused by the powerful wave of bad weather,” the Shipping Ministry said in a statement.
Volunteers and equipment from the army and regional government had been deployed to the eastern Aegean island to restore roads and other damage caused by Monday’s storm.
Divers were making sure no one had been trapped in their cars, the ministry said.
On Wednesday heavy overnight rain flooded towns near Athens, killing one woman, trapping others in their homes and cars and shutting schools.
Roads in Nea Peramos, 27 km (17 miles) west of Athens, turned into fast-flowing rivers of mud, TV footage showed.
In the nearby town of Mandra, one woman was found dead in her home, the fire brigade said. Twelve people were rescued from a bus on a bridge.
Some residents were forced onto the rooftops and balconies of their homes, state television said. Authorities received at least 160 calls for help.
