Heavy rains trap eight workers in Samaria gorge and wash away bridge in Zonia

Crete has been hit by severe weather, with the fire department receiving 508 calls from Thursday to Sunday and conducting 214 actions such as water pumping, moving people to safety, tree cutting, an animal rescue and object removal. In the Samaria gorge, eight workers - two from the Forest Service and six from Ofyepka - are trapped by high water but are in a secure spot and unharmed, according to the deputy regional civil protection head.

The collapse of a bridge and part of the road in Zonia, caused by fast-moving floodwater, has split the settlement and forced residents to evacuate their homes. A government crisis team, including ministers of infrastructure, climate crisis and agriculture, will assess damage and coordinate recovery, while schools in the affected municipalities remain closed. The EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service has been activated to provide satellite-based mapping for the disaster area.