Images in Crete of the aftermath of the weather front “Oceanis” are indicative of the destruction the phenomenon left in its path, protothema.gr reports.
The magnitude of the catastrophe was highlighted by the statements made by the Mayor of Platanias, who noted: “Even if an outside enemy had bombarded us, I do not think our infrastructure would have sustained so much damage”
At least seven bridges have collapsed in Chania and Rethymno, the prefectures that have suffered the most damage from the heavyrains and gale force winds.
Villages stay blocked, the power grid continues to have problems and with the help of Fire-brigade special units (EMAK) 60 firefighters and dinghies. The 61-year-old man, a father of five children, who went missing at the Embrosneros of the municipality of Apokoronos while he was driving in his car, probably from the rushing torrent was finally discovered dead.
The provincial road network, especially in Kissamos and Apokoronos in Chania, has collapsed, while all the bridges on it are now out of use as they have either completely or mostly collapsed.
The images of the crumbling of the Platanias bridge on the old highway on Tuesday are really shocking.
In the Municipality of Rethymno, authorities proceeded to evacuate the houses located in the area of Platanias, as the level of the Platanias river began to rise and the locals feared it might overflow. A total of 44 people were moved from their homes and were temporarily housed in one of the municipalities’ old people’s homes (KAPI).
The extreme bad weather for Greece’s standards that sweeps Crete, also caused the collapse of the historic bridge of Keritis.
The moment of the collapse took place while the local TV channel “New Television of Crete” was broadcasting live from the site.
The Keritis bridge, which had been in place for more than 100 years and had been a part of the history of the area, is no longer there, as it was drifting by the river just before 3 o’clock.
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