Flooded streets, flooding and dozens of firefighter interventions – these are the effects of storm Elena over Greece. One of the regions most affected was the country's capital, Athens. In recent days, unsettled weather has also occurred in mountainous regions, where residents faced snowstorms.
The biggest problems occurred on the night from Wednesday to Thursday, when heavy rain fell in many places for many hours. In the town of Vilia in Western Attica, it was about 152 liters of water per square meter. Downpours associated with storm Elena also affected Athens and its surroundings. Residents of the northern and southern suburbs of the Greek capital struggled with local flooding and communication problems.
There was also unrest on the second largest Greek island, Euboea, where heavy rainfall led to an increase in the water level in the Messapios River. Snowstorms also caused difficulties, blocking roads and closing some ski resorts.
Dozens of service interventions
In the city of Kifisia, located near Athens, firefighters intervened dozens of times. Most reports concerned flooded properties, mainly basements. In turn, in Euboea, there was a serious flood in the village of Maletiani, part of the Kymi municipal district. Due to the downpours in the region, there were also problems with the local water supply network.
According to forecasts, the intensity of rainfall will decrease on Friday, but dangerous weather will return to many Greek regions by the weekend. The local meteorological service warned of heavy rainfall and storms, which will occur in, among others, Euboea, the Cyclades, the Sporades and parts of Crete. In turn, heavy snowfall is forecast for mountain areas. An additional threat will also be a storm that will appear in the Aegean Sea.
Main photo source: ENEX