Athens and surrounding areas were grappling with severe weather on Wednesday as a low-pressure front continued to batter Attica prefecture (the greater Athens-Piraeus area), bringing torrential rains, flooding, and power outages.
Several neighborhoods remained without electricity in the early evening, and authorities ordered evacuations in the south-central district of Agios Dimitrios earlier on Wednesday. Flooded roads made road travel hazardous. The Fire Department received dozens of calls on Wednesday evening.
Officials urged Attica residents to avoid unnecessary travel.
Meteorologists reported that rainfall, which intensified at around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, could result in more than a month’s worth of rain in just a few hours. By 4:20 p.m., Papagou had recorded over 80mm of rain, Halandri 60mm, and Ilioupoli 51mm. Seasonal streams and floodways in the greater Athens agglomeration, including Valanari and Pikrodafni, overflowed, causing local flooding.
After 6 p.m., heavy rain caused significant flooding in Piraeus, forcing traffic diversions. In Nea Makri, on the eastern Attica coast, roadway subsidence led to road closures and traffic disruptions.
Meanwhile, in the seaside town of Paralia Astros on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, a coast guard officer drowned after being pulled into the sea by a wave while trying to secure a boat. His body was recovered shortly before 5 p.m.
Additionally, another fatality was reported in the evening, after the body of a woman whose car was overtaken by floodwaters in the southeast coastal district of Glyfada was recovered.
Gale-force winds caused major damage to agricultural lands on Crete. On the small island of Gavdos, winds overturned boats, damaged vehicles, and threatened residents.
Traffic was briefly halted on the Rio-Antirio Bridge in Patras due to strong gusts. Ferry services to the Greek islands were suspended. Schools were closed on Wednesday, with lessons conducted online, while public servants worked remotely.
Snowfall was reported across dozens of cities and villages in northern and central Greece. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection issued red-code warnings for Attica, the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly, and Western Macedonia. Emergency 112 alerts were also sent to residents in Evia, Viotia, and Attica prefectures.
Looking ahead, Attica Regional Governor Nikos Hardalias confirmed that all schools in the prefecture will reopen on Thursday.
Meteorologists predict that the weather front will begin subsiding by Thursday afternoon.
