Cars are swept away as Storm Agneta turns roads into rivers on the Greek holiday island of Rhodes

Storm Agneta unleashed violent flash floods across Greece today, with Rhodes hit hardest as residents climbed onto rooftops to escape rising waters. Schools were closed across the island and an overnight emergency alert told people to move to higher ground and remain indoors. Conditions are expected to worsen before easing on Wednesday.

Firefighters spent the day pumping floodwater from properties as the civil protection agency warned residents to avoid streams, torrents and coastal areas.

Rainfall is set to intensify across the Ionian Islands and central Greece, with thunderstorms also forecast for Epirus and the western Peloponnese.

Rhodes suffered a near-identical disaster last month, when a 62-year-old man was killed after a torrent swept his car to a beach during heavy rain.