Crete keeps schools closed for second day in Lasithi and Rethymno as storms continue
Schools in several municipalities of Lasithi and Rethymno remained closed on Friday, October 2, 2026, for a second consecutive day, as authorities continued to assess storm damage across Crete. Decisions varied by region depending on the extent of damage and the evolution of the weather, while schools in Chania reopened and Heraklion left the matter to individual municipalities.
Lasithi: schools closed in Agios Nikolaos and Sitia
In the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos, all schools at every level, along with nursery schools, remained closed on Friday. According to the municipality, the decision was taken to allow time to complete inspections of school buildings and address any issues following heavy rainfall in the area.
Schools also stayed closed across the Municipality of Sitia, which remains under a Red Code weather alert. The closures mark the second day of school closures linked to the red alert declared over flood risk in the region.
Rethymno: Mylopotamos and Amari schools stay shut
Schools also remained closed in the Municipality of Mylopotamos. By order of the mayor, all primary and secondary schools, as well as municipal nursery and childcare centers, suspended operations for Friday. The municipality said damage from the storms, including problems with access along parts of the road network, was a key factor in the decision. The closure follows a 112 emergency alert issued for the Mylopotamos area as the storms hit.
All schools in the Municipality of Amari also stayed closed, the municipality said, due to adverse weather conditions in the area.
Chania: schools reopen as weather eases
The picture was different in the Regional Unit of Chania, where primary and secondary schools operated normally on Friday. According to Deputy Regional Governor of Chania Nikos Kalogeris, updated forecasts pointed to a temporary lull in the storms lasting until Friday afternoon. The reopening comes after Chania and Rethymno closed schools the previous day as severe storms approached.
Heraklion: no blanket closure, municipalities decide individually
In the Regional Unit of Heraklion, there was no single decision to close all schools. Deputy Regional Governor of Heraklion Nikos Syrigonakis said the storms were affecting areas very differently, and that each municipality was deciding on its own whether to suspend school operations, either across the whole municipality or in specific settlements.
Residents were urged to follow announcements from their own municipalities, as officials described the situation as still changing, with further storms expected over the coming days.
