Elderly farmer swept to his death as 'unprecedented' flash floods batter Crete with red alert until Sunday

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026.

Flash floods have killed an elderly livestock farmer and put the Greek island of Crete under a red alert that will remain in force until Sunday, with meteorologists warning the extreme weather will continue throughout the week. Firefighters received more than 250 calls for help and dozens of residents had to be rescued after thunderstorms triggered torrents of mud through streets, swept vehicles into the sea, and caused widespread power cuts. A bridge in the Rethymno region collapsed under the deluge, sending a car into the riverbed and hospitalising the couple inside.

The farmer, in his eighties, was swept away in the Rethymno region on Thursday afternoon after reportedly stepping out to tend to his sheep.

Mayor Giorgos Klados of Mylopotamos declared a state of emergency, saying: 'I am 50 years old and I don't remember anything like this happening before.'

Schools have been closed across the island and roads, properties and farms have suffered significant damage from what locals are calling 'unprecedented' floods.