Storms boost Crete’s Aposelemis dam by 1 million cubic meters as 112 alerts sound islandwide

Crete remained on alert on Saturday as a second wave of severe weather triggered repeated 112 emergency alerts across the island, with authorities saying the storms are expected to continue until Sunday night. The same system that has caused extensive damage, particularly in the mountainous Mylopotamos area, also added roughly 1,000,000 cubic meters of water to the Aposelemis dam.

The new storm front struck while damage from an earlier, intense storm was still being assessed, with the Mylopotamos area especially hard hit. Large volumes of rain falling across Crete have had sharply different effects depending on location: reservoirs such as the Aposelemis dam have been replenished, while areas including Kastelli and the coastal section of Gouves have reported severe damage.

Difficult hours in Mylopotamos

Residents of villages in the Mylopotamos area faced a difficult day as torrents of water, mud and debris swept into homes, businesses and roads. The 112 alert sounded again on residents’ phones on Saturday afternoon, and was later extended to the rest of Crete with a strict warning to limit movement.

Firefighters carried out a notable operation in Zoniana, where two minors were preventively moved from their home to another house after water levels rose in the area. The Municipality of Mylopotamos has deployed all available construction machinery to clear debris from roads and help drain floodwater, according to local authorities monitoring the Mylopotamos damage.

Fire service mobilization remains at a high level, with crews focused on providing assistance, pumping water, cutting fallen trees and, where necessary, moving residents to safe locations. Municipalities across Crete’s regional units are also on standby to support the Fire Service, mainly by supplying machinery, while the severe weather remains active.

Aposelemis dam gains water

The storms battering Crete have had a beneficial effect on the Aposelemis dam, which gained around 1,000,000 cubic meters of water, bringing its cumulative total to more than 10,180,000 cubic meters.

At the floodgate that releases water toward the Chonos stream, flooding has now occurred. Two days earlier, an attempt was made to open the floodgate to relieve pressure as rainfall reached 170 millimeters. A technical problem was identified when rushing waters overflowed amid relentless rain that reached 300 millimeters. Repairs to the fault are expected to be carried out starting next week.

Malevizi urges residents to avoid travel in four coastal areas

Following an updated bulletin from the National Meteorological Service forecasting intense weather over Crete, the Municipality of Malevizi issued a strong recommendation for residents and visitors in Agia Pelagia, Lygaria, Mades and Palaiokastro to exercise particular caution and limit movement to what is strictly necessary, especially during the peak of the severe weather, until noon on Sunday. Similar guidance was issued by the municipality for these coastal communities as the storm approached.

Residents, business owners and visitors in these areas were asked to take early self-protection measures, including removing objects that could be swept away by floodwater and pose a danger to people or property. Particular attention was also urged regarding vehicle parking, with drivers advised to move cars away from spots prone to heavy runoff or flooding and to choose safer parking locations.

Authorities said people should avoid crossing areas where water has accumulated or where strong flow is observed, as well as approaching streams, torrents and other points that may become hazardous. The Municipality of Malevizi and Civil Protection services said they remain on heightened alert, monitoring the weather and keeping the necessary response mechanism on standby.

Damage assessment under way in Hersonissos

In the Municipality of Hersonissos, Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection Spyros Katsamboxakis has formed a committee to record damage to municipal infrastructure, aiming to document the destruction caused by the ongoing storm, which has particularly affected the municipality’s coastal areas.

Committee members have begun on-site inspections to assess the extent of the damage, with the findings to support requests to the relevant ministries for the affected areas to be declared in a state of emergency.