Severe Weather Alerts Issued for Chios, Serifos

Greek authorities issued emergency weather alerts Sunday as severe conditions affected parts of the country, with special warnings for the islands of Chios and Serifos and public health measures implemented in Heraklion, Crete.

112 Alert for Chios Amid Severe Weather

Shortly before 3 p.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 15, an emergency 112 message was sent to residents on the island of Chios in the northeastern Aegean Sea.

The alert, issued by Greece’s Civil Protection authority, warned of intense weather phenomena impacting the island and urged residents to limit movement in coastal areas.

“Due to severe weather phenomena in the Regional Unit of Chios, limit your movements to absolutely necessary travel in coastal areas. Follow the instructions of the authorities,” the message read.

The 112 system is Greece’s nationwide emergency alert service, used to notify residents of urgent risks ranging from extreme weather to wildfires and other natural hazards.

Similar Warning for Serifos

A similar 112 alert was sent to residents of Serifos, a Cycladic island in the Aegean Sea popular with summer visitors.

The message specifically referenced the Livadi area of Serifos, calling on people to restrict travel to only what is absolutely necessary in coastal zones due to intense weather conditions.

“Due to severe weather phenomena in the Livadi area of the island of Serifos, limit your movements to absolutely necessary travel in coastal areas. Follow the instructions of the authorities,” the alert stated.

Coastal areas are often particularly vulnerable during periods of severe weather, especially when strong winds and rough seas are involved.

African Dust and Strong Winds Disrupt Heraklion

In Heraklion, the largest city on the island of Crete, local authorities announced the postponement of the “Kastrino Carnival” parade scheduled for Sunday.

The Municipality of Heraklion cited high concentrations of African dust in the atmosphere, combined with strong winds that had already caused problems across the city since Sunday morning.

According to an updated meteorological bulletin, the phenomenon has intensified and may pose risks to public health, prompting precautionary measures.

Following guidance from the Directorate of Public Health of the Region of Crete, the municipality also announced that all schools in Heraklion will remain closed on Monday, Feb. 16. The closures include:

• Public play schools and nursery centers
• Kindergartens
• Elementary schools
• Middle schools
• High schools
• Vocational high schools (EPAL)
• Special education schools of all types

Municipal authorities said the African dust phenomenon is being continuously monitored and that a new announcement will be issued Monday at noon, depending on how weather conditions evolve.