Brits looking to jet off to Greece in the coming weeks have been advised to check it is safe before travelling.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has provided updated travel information for holidaymakers heading to Greece as weather warnings have been implemented for popular tourist hotspots.
Extreme weather has hit parts of the country and could continue this summer, warn experts, with storms, flash flooding and even seismic activity seen in the region in recent months.
Flash floods and storms have battered the Greek islands of Crete and Rhodes, with seven people rescued from floodwater.
Disruption has also been felt on the islands of Paros and Mykonos, with clean-up missions now in place in the aftermath of hailstorms and torrential downpours.
But where do you stand if you are booked to fly out soon? Here is everything we know.
When will the storm hit?
The storms are ongoing and broke out on Monday, though it is expected the worst is over.
Greece was gearing up for the start of the tourist season when the storm hit with 70mm of rainfall hitting Paros in two hours, which has been described as the worst rainfall to hit the area in 20 years.
Around 40 cars were swept away in the port of Naoussa, according to the island's mayor, Costas Bizas.
A state of emergency was declared on both islands as a clear-up operation began.
Residents in Mykonos faced powerful winds and hail, whilst on Crete, at least seven people had to be saved by rescue crews from cars trapped by floodwaters.
Chania and Rhodes were also hit with high rainfall and gale force winds.
How long will the storm last?
The storms are expected to tail off from now, with most of the extreme weather now passed. Tail-end storms can be expected in the coming days, with some more rainfall and winds expected, but the worst is expected to have hit.
Is it safe to travel to Greece?
Yes. It is still considered safe but the government has issued advice to those looking to visit soon.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “Adverse weather conditions, including floods, can happen quickly. Register for Emergency alerts and follow ‘112 Greece’ on X for official updates.”
They added: “Greece can experience extreme natural phenomena such as earthquakes, wildfires, extreme heat and flash floods. To be alerted to events near where you are located in Greece, register for alerts from the Greek government’s Emergency Communication Service) (in English):
- for iPhones go to Settings > Notifications and enable the ‘Emergency Alerts’ option at the bottom
- for Android 11 and higher go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Wireless Emergency Alerts
- for Samsung devices go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Notifications > Emergency Notifications and enable the ‘Emergency Alerts’ option”
What if my holiday is affected?
Normally you cannot claim compensation for a holiday which is affected by extreme weather or extraordinary circumstances.
But you should keep a close watch on the airline you are flying with for updates.
Under UK law, airlines must help you if your flight is cancelled, you must be provided with food and drink, a means of communication and can even claim compensation depending on how long you are delayed.
