Storm Byron Batters Greek Island of Kastellorizo

The news in Greek

1. καταιγίδα  (f.)
   πολύ δυνατή βροχή με αέρα, κεραυνούς και βροντές ↩︎
2. χτυπάω
   προκαλώ δυνατό χτύπο ή πλήγμα σε κάποιον ή κάτι ↩︎
3. πλημμυρίζω
   γεμίζω με πολύ νερό, σκεπάζομαι από νερό ↩︎
4. πρόβλημα  (n.)
   δύσκολη κατάσταση ή κάτι που χρειάζεται λύση ↩︎
5. δήμος  (m.)
   τοπική αρχή που οργανώνει και φροντίζει μια πόλη ή χωριό ↩︎
6. εθελοντής  (m.)
   άνθρωποι που βοηθούν χωρίς να πληρώνονται ↩︎

Translation

Text comprehension

Question 1: What problems did the storm cause for the houses and shops on Kastellorizo?

Question 2: Who is helping to clean and repair the island after the storm?

Vocabulary

Greek	English
καταιγίδα  (f.)	thunderstorm
χτυπάω	hit
πλημμυρίζω	flood
πρόβλημα  (n.)	problem
δήμος  (m.)	municipality
εθελοντής  (m.)	volunteer

Read the full story

Powerful storm system Byron has struck the remote Greek island of Kastellorizo, causing extensive damage to homes and key infrastructure and forcing local authorities to declare a state of emergency.

The small Aegean island, close to the Turkish coast, was hit by exceptionally heavy rainfall and strong winds. According to local reports, streets briefly turned into rushing streams as water flowed down from the surrounding hills into the main residential areas. Many residents spent the early hours of Sunday morning using brooms, shovels and buckets to remove mud and water from houses, basements and shops.

The storm left a trail of flood damage across the island. There were reports of fallen trees, damaged shops and homes, and disruptions to electricity and water supply in certain neighbourhoods. For an island that already faces challenges because of its geographical isolation, the impact on everyday life was immediate and severe.

Local authorities responded by placing Kastellorizo under emergency status and coordinating clean-up and repair work. Municipal services, the fire brigade and volunteers began clearing roads and assessing the condition of buildings and public spaces. At the same time, regional and national officials have been monitoring the situation, as the same weather system, storm Byron, has also caused serious flooding in parts of Thessaly on the Greek mainland, where entire settlements have reportedly been inundated and rivers are at dangerous levels.

On Kastellorizo, residents have emphasised the strong sense of community solidarity. Neighbours are helping each other to salvage belongings, clean homes and reopen local businesses. Volunteer groups and organisations are assisting with relief and restoration efforts, while engineers are inspecting infrastructure to identify urgent repairs.

Although the full cost of the damage is still being calculated, the island is now focused on returning to normal life. For many people outside Greece, Kastellorizo is known mainly as a picturesque tourist destination; the recent events highlight how extreme weather can affect even small and remote communities, and how local residents must quickly adapt to protect their homes, livelihoods and essential services.

Info: “Greek Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Greek”, a language school offering various types of online Greek courses, providing straightforward guidance on how to learn Greek fast through structured lessons and practical resources.