Symi Disaster: Photos from Rodos Press
For the weekend, I am posting photos taken from Rodos Press. You can see their full gallery here: RodosPress.gr
As you can see… A lot of damage. In some cases, it’s hard to believe that no-one was buried by the mud and rock slide, and that no-one was washed into the sea, though it was thought for a while that someone had been. No casualties. Apart from: Wrecked businesses, wrecked schools, roads, paths, street lighting, boats, houses, possessions, beaches, churches and the football pitch, among many other things. You will see that that the pitch is now completely gone. Apparently, it cost something like €250,000 to build, and it’s going to take the same amount to put it right, I’d imagine. If it ever gets put right. Meanwhile, our rising football teams who were doing so well, have nowhere to play.
That’s just a few examples of what islanders are struggling with. Later will come the longer-term effects on buildings; damp, water penetration, drying out, cracking, replacing electricity systems and drainage, among others. There is also talk that some buildings will have to come down and be rebuilt, as they are no longer safe. We also mustn’t forget the hinterland and the effects of the storm on Pedi, Nimborio, Ksisos and other places, and the farms and homes up in the mountains. With the road closed by rockfalls for a few days, some people were unable to make it down to the town for supplies, or up to their farms to see to their animals, not without walking several miles over the hills.
I will leave you to look through the rest of these borrowed images (with thanks to Rodos Press) and the others over there on their site. Remember, that there are ways you can help from abroad – financial. Through the registered charities Solidarity Symi and Next Stop Symi (who are helping UK donators by channels donations through to Solidarity Symi), the Repair Symi’s Schools donation page. As I’ve mentioned, a percentage of books sales from my Symi titles will be going directly to the village high school for replacements books.
