An amateur video shows extensive flooding in Rhodes on Friday

The official death toll from the cataclysmic storm that hit the island of Rhodes on Friday rose to three yesterday when fire department rescuers found the body of one of two men missing since the storm. The man was the 67 year-old husband of a woman, 54, who was found dead on Friday after the car the two were traveling in was swept away by a flash flood in a gully in the area of Maritsa – Pastidas.
 
Another woman also lost her life in the same area in the flash flooding caused by the storm. The  victim, a 27 year-old teacher was killed when she and two other colleagues were caught by the flood. Her body was located on a nearby beach where it had been swept by the current. One of the men, 30, was able to save himself, although is now in a state of shock, while the other man, 53, is still missing.
 
Police and rescue services remain on a state of alert as the fire service and coast guard continue to search the area. On Saturday a team of ten rescuers with the fire service’s Special Unit for Disaster Management (EMAK) traveled to the island with a specially trained rescue-dog to assist the local forces which consist of 15 teams comprised of a total of 35 fire service officers and 30 soldiers.
 
Aside from the tragic loss of life, the storm also caused extensive destruction and flooding on the island which has declared a state of emergency. It is estimated that 5 million euros worth of damages were caused by the storm, which older residents have described as the worst they’ve ever seen.
 
Hundreds of homes remain without water in the areas of Ialisous and Ixias while the entire island is subject to frequent power outages. Meanwhile a new wave of bad weather has been forecast to hit the island over the next few days.