Cyclone Ianos kills three people in Greece

The Mediterranean storm destroyed homes in central Greece and has now hit Crete

The Mediterranean hurricane, or 'Medicane' Ianos crossing the Ionian Sea and approaching Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane'. EPA

A man checks damages of his boat during Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) Ianos on Zakynthos island, Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane', named Ianos is forecasted to make landfall in Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos with winds reaching hurricane-force Category 1. EPA

View of a damaged wall at a cemetery during Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) Ianos on Zakynthos island, Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane', named Ianos is forecasted to make landfall in Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos with winds reaching hurricane-force Category 1. EPA

A boat sunken by Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) Ianos on Zakynthos island, Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane', named Ianos is forecasted to make landfall in Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos with winds reaching hurricane-force Category 1. EPA

A view of boats during Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) Ianos on Zakynthos island, Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane', named Ianos is forecasted to make landfall in Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos with winds reaching hurricane-force Category 1. EPA

A view of boats during Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) Ianos on Zakynthos island, Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane', named Ianos is forecasted to make landfall in Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos with winds reaching hurricane-force Category 1. EPA

View of a tree knocked down by Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) Ianos on Zakynthos island, Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane', named Ianos is forecasted to make landfall on Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos with winds reaching hurricane-force Category 1. EPA

View of a power pole knocked down by Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) Ianos on Zakynthos island, Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane', named Ianos is forecasted to make landfall in Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos with winds reaching hurricane-force Category 1. EPA

View of a tree knocked down by Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) Ianos on Zakynthos island, Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane', named Ianos is forecasted to make landfall in Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos with winds reaching hurricane-force Category 1. EPA

A general view of a parking tent knocked down by Medicane (Mediterranean hurricane) Ianos on Zakynthos island, Greece. A rare hurricane-like cyclone in the eastern Mediterranean, a so-called 'Medicane', named Ianos is forecasted to make landfall in Kefalonia, Ithaca and Zakynthos with winds reaching hurricane-force Category 1. EPA

Three people have died and another is missing after Cyclone Ianos wreaked havoc across central Greece, destroyed homes and flooded streets.

The relatively rare Mediterranean storm – known as a medicane – hit the central cities of Karditsa and Farsala and has now reached the popular tourist island of Crete.

Around 5,000 houses were flooded in Karditsa, with a nearby plain turned into a lake.

A deceased man was found under the collapsed roof his house in a village nearby on Sunday while the body of a 63-year-old man was discovered in the same area, about 300 kilometres north of Athens. Authorities are still searching for a woman reported missing in Karditsa and the body of an elderly woman was found in Farsala on Saturday.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will visit the area in the coming days and said economic relief will be provided.

The fire brigade said it had received more than 2,450 calls in the affected regions for assistance to rescue trapped people, cut down trees and pump out water from homes and businesses.

Cyclones have been recorded in Greece for decades but while they were once rare they have become more frequent in recent years. A similar storm hit the country in 2018. Flash floods in 2017 killed 25 people and left hundreds homeless.