Storm Ballos wreaks havoc across Greece

By Magda Panoutsopoulou

ATHENS (AA) – Storm Ballos has wreaked havoc across Greece, with some regions submerged in water following two days of continuous rain that began on Thursday.

Thousands of people were trapped in their vehicles and forced to abandon them in the Attica region as floodwaters overflowed the streets, causing havoc.

Local media reported on Friday that a bus had been swamped in the Attica region's southern suburbs on Thursday afternoon. Passengers were seen exiting the bus and trudging through water that had nearly reached their waistline.

Public transport was also disrupted as huge amounts of water were accumulated in most of the region's main roads as well as the train's mainline.

According to Professor Efthymios Lekkas, the head of the Earthquake Planning and Protection Organization, more than 30 tons of water fell in the Kifissos River basin on Thursday, ranging from the northern part of the Attica area in Kryoneri to the center of Athens.

“These phenomena are unprecedented,” Lekkas said on Skai TV. “We are in a new phase of the climate crisis and new structures are needed,” he stressed.

Primary and secondary schools in the region remained closed on Friday, and traffic on the National Road was halted until 6 a.m. local time (0300GMT).

- Corfu, Ithaca islands also hit

Residents of the Ionian Sea islands of Corfu and Ithaca saw water pouring into their homes, forcing hundreds of them to flee.

A man has gone missing in Southern Evia Island, which has been battered by torrential rain for the second time in less than a week.

The 69-year-old man called for help, and later, pieces of his cellphone were found in his car.