A storm front that lashed Greece for about a day brought gale-force winds and flooding, while Saharan dust colored parts of the sky red, including over Crete, according to reports. The weather left one person dead and prompted rescue operations as heavy rain and wind disrupted travel and power in multiple locations.
On the mainland, Greek media reported that a 55-year-old man died after becoming trapped under a car as surging waters swept through Nea Makri, a town about 25 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of Athens. The flooding also drove calls for help that stretched beyond storm damage and into emergency rescues.
Fire Department official Yiannis Tsingas told state radio that fire engines responded to some 500 calls for assistance. He said crews handled a range of tasks, including cutting felled trees, pumping water out of flooded homes and rescuing 33 people trapped by high floodwaters.
In Athens, power went out in various suburbs as the storm moved through. Traffic also slowed in the city center as downed trees and stalled cars piled up, reflecting the combination of wind damage and flooding across roads.
The storm’s impact spread to islands across the Aegean as well, where streets turned into channels of fast-moving water. On Paros, the report said vehicles were swept away and a small bridge collapsed, adding to disruptions in coastal areas.
The mayor of Paros said schools were closed on Thursday, citing the conditions following the storm. The report also noted that stormy seas compounded heavy rains along coastal areas, worsening flooding risks where roads and infrastructure are close to the water.