- विज्ञापन -
Athens: Since Christmas, Greece has been experiencing severe weather due to a front named Elena, leading to significant traffic chaos and flooding nationwide, authorities reported on Thursday.
In Athens, residents in both the northern and southern suburbs faced heavy rainfall on Thursday, resulting in flooded homes and cars being swept away. The Fire Brigade received around 40 calls for assistance to pump out water and clear fallen trees from roadways.
The heaviest rainfall was reported in the mountainous regions of Vilia and Penteli in Attica, while the southern suburbs experienced the most severe flooding. Among the hardest-hit areas were the port city of Piraeus and the nearby neighborhood of Alimos.
Additionally, the Peace and Friendship Stadium, located near Piraeus Port, also suffered flooding, with damage assessments currently underway, according to the Xinhua news agency.
Road closures were enacted for routes leading to Mount Parnitha in the northern suburbs due to snowfall, creating a 5-kilometer traffic jam on Wednesday at the base of Mount Parnassus as holiday-goers flocked to the ski resort.
Officials on Thursday urged drivers in central and northern Greece’s mountainous regions to use snow chains and to drive cautiously amid ongoing heavy storms.
Evia Island, located close to Athens, also experienced flooding on its roadways due to intense rain, prompting authorities to remain vigilant as a local river began swelling. Firefighters had to rescue a family trapped in a car ensnared in mud, as reported by the local newspaper “To Vima.”
Flooding has also affected sections of the highway linking Athens to the Peloponnese Peninsula in southern Greece. However, the National Meteorological Service has indicated that these adverse weather conditions are expected to subside by Friday.
