Heavy rains flood Lasithi plain, jeopardizing potato and vegetable harvests in Crete

Intense rainfall in eastern Crete’s Lasithi region caused the Havgas River to breach its banks, flooding the Lasithi Plain and submerging thousands of acres of potato and vegetable fields. The inundation has turned once-productive land into temporary lakes of water and mud, threatening this year’s harvest and the expenses already incurred for seeds, fertilizers, fuel and labor. Authorities have declared a state of emergency for civil protection and are conducting inspections, though the full extent of the damage is still being determined.

Farmers are documenting losses and pressing the government for details on the amount and timing of financial assistance. The flood creates a major financial gap for farming families, with economic repercussions expected to unfold over the coming months.