Flood on Skiathos – hundreds of Swedish travelers affected
Vilma Stockvall
Updated 23:32 | Published 9:30 p.m
News
Greece has been hit by massive downpours and huge floods.
Hundreds of Swedish tourists are on the island of Skiathos - and several have been evacuated from their rooms.
- A few hotels are so affected that our guests cannot stay there, says Martina Krantz, press officer at Apollo.
Massive downpours swept across Greece at the start of the week. Storm Daniel has now caused major flooding on the popular Greek island of Skiathos, where hundreds of Swedish holidaymakers are.
Pictures from the island show how water rushes onto the streets. Beach chairs and cars are dragged along in the rivers.
Greek authorities have now issued a curfew on the island. Residents and tourists are not allowed to leave their homes, hotels or stay on the streets.
- We have come into contact with our staff on site who state that it is a very difficult situation, says Martina Krantz, press officer at Apollo.
Water rushes onto the streets and drags deckchairs and cars with it. Photo: Private
Difficult to get hold of food
Apollo has 202 Swedish travelers on the entire island. Some have had to vacate their rooms.
- A few hotels are so affected that our guests cannot stay there. Those guests can wait in the hotel's common areas, says Martina Krantz.
It must also be difficult to communicate to and on the island due to inadequate electricity and telephony. Those affected on the island also have difficulty getting hold of food.
At 1pm in the afternoon, the police shut down all traffic on the island and an emergency SMS was sent out to all mobile phones.
Fredrik Bylund and Helena Charneske's room was flooded. Photo: Private
"Water all over the floor"
Two who have been evacuated from their rooms are Fredrik Bylund and Helena Charneske, who live in Koukounaries.
- We woke up early this morning and heard noises, and when we got up we saw that the corridor was full of water, says Fredrik Bylund.
The power went out during the day, and more and more water started entering the room as well as through the ventilation.
- Finally, there was water all over the floor. There were a lot of people who wanted to change rooms, and since the flights didn't go, many had to stay.
But now we have a room that doesn't leak, says Helena Charneske.
Despite the flooding, the couple describe the mood as calm, but they noticed that visitors and staff were upset and dejected.
- The staff stood with brooms and tried to shovel away the water, while laying out towels, says Helena.
The floor of the hotel was covered in water. Photo: Private
Thirty have changed rooms or been evacuated
Ving has 223 Swedish tourists on site – of which around thirty have had to change rooms or have been evacuated to another hotel.
- Under the circumstances, it is still under control, says Claes Pellvik, communications manager at Ving.
Pellvik says that the food selection at the hotels may be reduced, but there is enough food for everyone.
- According to the reports we have received from local authorities, the weather is here during the evening, and the forecast looks a little better starting tomorrow, says Claes Pellvik.
Magnus and Viktoria Östrand are on site in flood-affected Skiathos. Photo: Private
Grocery store delivered to the hotel
Magnus and Viktoria Östrand are also on the island. They live on a hill, and below part of the road has been washed away.
- They have made an emergency solution on the road, but 30 to 40 meters of the asphalt is gone. The police have closed off a side of the city that goes out towards us, says Magnus Östrand.
The rain has poured down, and sand from the beach has been pushed out into the water. Earlier in the day, a grocery store brought food to the hotel.
- When it rained at its worst, the stairs down to the beach and the fence around the pool had been washed away. Some larger stones have gone onto the road.
The couple have been there since Sunday, and they managed to get a sunny day before the rain hit.
- You can entertain yourself with what you can. We talk to the neighbours, play Yatzy and read a lot of books, says Magnus.
The road below Magnus and Viktoria's hotel is covered in water. Photo: Private
"Have so we can get by for a couple of days"
Marie Beckman is on the east side of the island with her husband. At them, traffic is still closed, but the water masses have begun to calm down.
- It is terrible weather, but we have received several warnings and it has been handled very well, says Marie Beckman.
The couple have been to the island several times before, but have never seen any floods like this.
They even managed to buy food before the weather got worst.
- We have so we can get by for a couple of days. There are those who have had no food or water, but they have received help from other travelers, says Marie.
Marie Beckman and her husband are on the east side of Skiathos. "It's terrible weather," she says. Photo: Private
One person died in the storm
It is not only Skiathos that is affected. Storm Daniel has hit the Thessaly region of Greece particularly hard, where a red warning has been issued.
Among the hard-hit cities are Volos and Pelion. In Volos, bridges and roads have collapsed and the rescue service is evacuating people in red rubber boats.
The armed forces have also been called in to help with the rescue work.
At least one person is said to have died in the storm. According to the news agency Athen News, the man died in connection with a wall collapsing.
According to forecasts, the storm is expected to bring historic amounts of rain. Before Tuesday, 500 millimeters of rain was expected over ten hours in Zagora. Since midnight until 3 p.m., 645 millimeters have fallen, something described as historic amounts.
Hundreds of Swedes are on the Greek island of Skiathos.
Destroyed road on Skiathos.
1 / 2Photo: Private
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