A powerful storm front over the past 24 hours has lashed Greece, bringing gale-force winds, flooding, and a Saharan dust storm that turned the sky over Crete a deep red. The surreal scene was reminiscent of apocalyptic conditions on the island.
On the mainland, a 55-year-old man died after being trapped under a car as surging waters swept him away in Nea Makri, about 25km northeast of Athens. Fire Department official Yiannis Tsingas told state radio that crews responded to around 500 calls for assistance, cutting felled trees, pumping water from flooded homes, and rescuing 33 people trapped by high floodwaters.
Power outages affected various suburbs of Athens, and traffic in the city centre was snarled by downed trees and stalled cars due to the high waters. The storm also disrupted life on other Aegean islands, with streets turning into rivers and stormy seas compounding the heavy rain on coastal areas.
On the island of Paros, vehicles were swept away and a small bridge collapsed. The island’s mayor announced that schools were closed on Thursday as a precaution.
