Severe Storms Batter Greek Islands for a Second Day, with Crete Hardest Hit

An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows the port of Naousa, after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP)
An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows the port of Naousa, after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP)
TT
20

Severe Storms Batter Greek Islands for a Second Day, with Crete Hardest Hit

An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows the port of Naousa, after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP)
An aerial photograph taken by a drone shows the port of Naousa, after a powerful storm which has triggered widespread flooding on the Aegean Sea island of Paros, Greece, Monday, March 31, 2025. (AP)

Severe storms battered islands in Greece for a second day Tuesday, with Crete experiencing the heaviest rainfall. Authorities on Paros and Mykonos, meanwhile, worked to clear overturned cars and debris following hailstorms and torrential downpours.

On Monday, storms in Paros sent cars floating into the sea and flooded homes and businesses with water and mud. Authorities have requested emergency government assistance to address road and infrastructure damage. Nearby Mykonos also endured hailstorms and powerful winds.

Rescue crews on Crete assisted seven people in vehicles trapped by floodwaters while rockslides and road closures were reported on the island after the storm overnight pushed toward the southeast. The highest rainfall in the previous 24 hours through Tuesday afternoon was recorded near the Cretan port of Chania, according National Observatory of Athens.

Rhodes faced gale-force winds that toppled trees and damaged vehicles.

Schools were closed across multiple islands, and the storms halted or disrupted ferry services.

The severe weather primarily impacted islands in the Cyclades chain in the central Aegean, a popular vacation destination known for its beaches and whitewashed houses.

The storms struck just weeks after a rare earthquake swarm forced thousands to flee Santorini and the nearby islands of Ios, Amorgos, and Anafi.



NCVC Launches One Million Seedling Planting Project in Mahayel Aseer

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA
TT
20

NCVC Launches One Million Seedling Planting Project in Mahayel Aseer

Photo by SPA
Photo by SPA

The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) branch in Aseer Region launched an environmental project to plant one million seedlings in almadra forest in Mahayel Aseer Governorate, located 80 km northwest of Abha.

This comes in support of the Saudi Green Initiative, according to SPA.
The project aims to promote community engagement by involving local volunteer teams in planting efforts.

The main goal targets reducing carbon emissions, restoring plant biodiversity, combating climate change, and supporting ecotourism activities in the region.