Strong winds in Crete: tree falls, closed roads, airport problems

Big problems have caused the heavy winds blowing in western Crete, as in many neighborhoods in Chania and Rethymnon and areas of the Regional and District Road network, trees fell, branches were cut and buckets were dragged.

The gusts of the winds are very strong at regular intervals and, as said by the Deputy Mayor of the Environment of the Municipality of Chania, Michalis Tsoupakis, there are various problems, such as a large plane tree that has fallen into the Skourahlada area in a mountainous village in the area. The main road has been closed and actions are being made to be liberated.

As he says, a basketball machine is needed in this area, but due to the strong air it cannot be used. Again from a tree fall, in Keramia – between the villages of Kontopoulos and Katechori – one traffic has closed.

« Inside the city of Chania, in various small spots there are small tree falls, but we also have larger on Mylonogiannis Street, St. John, Galata and Galata junction. Falls have occurred in BOAK and elsewhere on the highway, two electricity posts fell into the consolation area and we are in coordinating everyone’s services to assist where needed. He wants attention and I would recommend that the world be careful not to go under the trees until the wind is cut, « he adds, speaking to the Athens -Macedonian News Agency.

Extensive landslide in Rethymnon

To the south of the city of Rethymnon, at the height of Agia Irini, there was an extensive landslide on the road to Roussospiti, resulting in the point excluding and closing the road from the two traffic streams.

The Fire Brigade, ELAS And local government recommends that citizens, pedestrians and drivers of all types of vehicles, be very careful and not move if there is no need. However, according to the latest information on the evolution of the weather, the winds are expected to cut the next few hours.

Aircraft while attempting to land at Heraklion Airport (source: Nea Kriti)

Problems at Heraklion Airport

The stormy southerners throughout Crete also caused problems at Heraklion Airport « Nikos Kazantzakis ». As ekriti.gr reports, ten aircraft falls from tree falls failed to land at the airport safely and headed to other airports, while the strong southerners also caused scattered fireplaces.

The planes were finally landed at other nearby airports such as Sitia, Chania, Kos and even Athens. These are, among other things, flights from Frankfurt, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Amsterdam and Thessaloniki, as well as two flights from Stuttgart. The speed of the winds reached up to 45 knots, the local media reports.

Many passengers remain inside the airport, expecting information on their flights, while others are transported by road to neighboring airports to continue their journey.

According to the same source, due to the winds from the early morning hours, areas of Heraklion, such as Gournes, St. John Knossou, the hill of officers in Agia Catherine and Forteza, were left without electricity. The intensity of the winds in some cases even 9 beaufort.

View from the Rethymnon Municipal Garden in Crete (Source: Rethymnon News)

Rethymnon: Closed Municipal Garden

Due to the strong South, the Municipality of Rethymnon decided that the Municipal Garden of Rethymnon will remain closed on Sunday and informed the residents in a statement.

As stated, « The Department of Green and Urban Environment of the Municipality of Rethymnon informs citizens and citizens as well as visitors to the city that due to the prevailing weather conditions, the Rethymnon Municipal Garden will remain closed on Sunday, May 25, 2025 ».

This decision, as highlighted, was taken for the safety of garden visitors as strong winds pose risks for a possible fall of trees or branches.