Kathimerini Greece Newsroom
A fierce wave of winter storms has flooded the heart of Athens and shaken the wider region, turning busy streets into rushing waterways and leaving at least two people dead, officials said Thursday amid ongoing chaos from heavy rain, gale‑force winds, and snow in higher terrain.
Videos and images from the flooded city center show cars stranded in waist‑high water, pedestrians wading through submerged roadways, and emergency crews battling to clear drains and pump out homes as rain continued to pound the capital.
The severe weather, part of a low‑pressure system sweeping across much of Greece, intensified in the Attica region late Wednesday afternoon, sending water rushing onto main roads and snarling travel in and out of the city.
Emergency services reported dozens of calls for help, mainly for water pumping, across neighborhoods including Keratsini, Perama, Salamina, Piraeus, Alimos, the western suburbs, Western Attica, and central Athens.
Tragedy struck in the southern Athens suburb of Ano Glyfada, where a 56‑year‑old woman was swept away by floodwaters and struck by a vehicle carried along by the torrent, authorities confirmed.
Across the country, a 53‑year‑old Hellenic Coast Guard officer also died in the Peloponnese when he was struck by a powerful wave while trying to secure a boat at a harbor, officials said.
Authorities have issued Red Code emergency alerts for the greater Athens area and surrounding regions, warning residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary and expect continued heavy rain through Thursday.
Civil protection agencies also reported traffic disruptions, power outages in several districts, and temporary closures of schools as downpours flooded roads, toppled trees, and confined ferries to port.
Meteorologists say the storm has already dumped several weeks’ worth of rain in a short period, straining drainage systems and testing Athens’ ability to cope with sudden flooding.
In recent hours, firefighters have been stretched thin, pumping water from flooded homes and businesses and responding to emergency calls across neighborhoods hit hardest by the storm.
As of Thursday morning, officials had confirmed the two weather‑related deaths but stressed that blustery conditions and continued rain mean further disruptions are likely before the system finally moves east.
*REuters, ToVima
