Monster wave sweeps man away to his death in flood-hit Greece while coffins tumble down cliff face after landslide hits Italian cemetery as storms lash Europe

While violent storms ravaged Southern Europe, a giant wave swept a man to his death in Greece, and coffins were strewn across a mountainside in Italy after a landslide.

A 53-year-old coast guard officer tragically lost his life while on duty in the Greek seaside town of Astros.

According to the Greek Coast Guard, the man was on foot patrol in the area’s port area when a strong wave swept him away while their boat was anchoring.

Horrific footage captured a wave of monsters breaking through a barrier before raining down on a group of onlookers.

The coast guard officer, who suffered serious head injuries due to the impact, was pronounced dead after he was taken out of the water and taken to a local health facility.

Elsewhere, in San Mauro Marchesato, Crotone, Italy, about 20 coffins were piled in a ravine after heavy rains destroyed part of the town’s old cemetery.

Images taken from the scene show wooden debris piled under the cemetery, flower wreaths and framed images of people scattered among the debris.

As nearly eight inches of rain fell in just 24 hours, a landslide occurred in the town, destroying the lower part of the cemetery and some of its contents.

In San Mauro Marchesato, Crotone, about 20 coffins piled up in a ravine after heavy rains destroyed part of the town’s old cemetery.

Images taken from the scene show wooden debris piled under the cemetery, flower wreaths and framed images of people scattered among the debris.

Roads turned into rivers in Glyfada, Greece, as heavy floods hit the popular holiday destination, also known as the unofficial capital of the Athens Riviera.

It comes just a day after Italians were seen running for their lives as a tsunami-style storm flooded the streets of Sicily as the Mediterranean was battered by powerful Storm Harry.

Meanwhile, in Glyfada, Greece, roads turned into rivers as heavy floods hit the popular resort, also known as the unofficial capital of the Athens Riviera.

In a video posted on social media, muddy water can be seen drifting down a street in Metsovou, taking cars with it.

Deadly weather conditions also hit the southern suburbs of Attica on Wednesday afternoon, and a 56-year-old woman died after being swept away by floodwaters.

The woman was returning from work around 8 pm and tried to cross a street in the Ano Glyfada area.

At that time, a flood of water was flowing from a mountainous area towards the local Cyril and Methodius street, and he was tragically swept away by the current and trapped under a car.

Her neighbors frantically called for help from the emergency services, but when the fire brigade reached the scene, they saw that the woman was already dead.

A local resident who witnessed the terrible incident told Protothema about the dramatic moments when the woman lost her life.

‘It was past 9 o’clock. He was going to cross the street to go home. ‘He was dragged by the stream,’ they recalled.

‘He was stuck under the car, we couldn’t save him.’ Only his little feet were visible from under the car.

The National Observatory of Athens said the eight highest rainfalls across the country were recorded in Attica, the Eastern Peloponnese and Evia.

As of 8 p.m., Papagou recorded 5.7 inches, Tistikoupoli Trizinia recorded 5.1 inches and Vyronas recorded almost 5 inches.

Nomismatokopio, Chalandri, Drosia, Ilioupoli, Maroussi and Ampelokipoi were also heavily affected by bad weather conditions.

The storm vortex is expected to shift eastward on Thursday.

The Aegean islands are now under threat; Forecasts call for ‘storm surges’ and hurricane-force winds reaching speeds between 55 and 63 miles per hour. Authorities remain on high alert as the front moves across the archipelago.

Elsewhere, snowfall and sub-zero temperatures have ravaged Northern Greece, while Western Macedonia has been under red alert since Wednesday.

While snow was reported in regions such as Serres, Kilkis, Nevrokopi, Florina, Nikiforos, sleet was effective in some parts of Thessaloniki, Pella, Kilkis, Kavala and Drama.

Early on Thursday, temperatures dropped to -5C in Volakas, Nevrokopi and Paranesti, -4C in Vlasti, -3C in Pontokerasia and -2C in Drama.

Western Macedonia police imposed a temporary traffic ban on heavy goods vehicles weighing over 3.5 tons on many routes.

While snow chains are mandatory on many parts of the highway network, school programs have also been organized in some areas.

It comes after powerful waves flooded roads and pavements in Italy, with sea foam reaching the ground floors of nearby buildings.

Clips shared on social media show the moment a rising storm wave directly hit the port on the island of Lipari, off the coast of Sicily.

Images show huge waves crashing into Sicily on Tuesday night as the Mediterranean was battered by powerful Storm Harry

Expanding waves appear to flood roads and pavements

Locals are seen running and screaming as the water turns the streets into a river

Giant waves caused serious damage to a luxury seafood restaurant in Catania

Other videos shot in Sicily showed damage left behind by the storm, with debris and bags of garbage floating on flooded streets

High winds and even more waves continued to relentlessly tear at the shore as whitewater instantly flooded the surrounding streets.

Giant waves caused serious damage to a luxury seafood restaurant in Catania, Sicily’s second largest city.

CCTV footage from inside the restaurant showed how a powerful storm surge crashed into the windows of Andrew’s Faro restaurant, shattering the glass and destroying everything in its path.

Other videos shot across the island showed damage left behind by the storm, debris and bags of garbage floating on flooded streets.

Authorities issued a red alert in Sicily, Sardinia and Calabria as the storm caused high winds, heavy rain and heavy storm surge.

In Sicily, winds reached 74 miles per hour, while waves exceeded thirty feet, forcing authorities to order precautionary evacuations as conditions worsened.

In Catania, the sea exceeded the five meter limit.

Sea conditions caused the suspension of all ferries to Sardinia and smaller islands, leaving many people stranded.

In the port city of Messina, conditions were so severe that part of the coastline completely collapsed.

The island was expecting up to 11 inches of rain in just two days.

Approximately 190 people were evacuated from exposed areas of Sicily due to the danger of flash floods and floods.

While schools, parks and sports facilities have been ordered to close in many towns, fire crews are also working to help families evacuate their homes.