The intensity of the storms led the Traffic Police to close parts of Piraeus Street in both directions, while significant congestion developed in central Athens and along major arteries including Kifissou Avenue, Kifisias Avenue, Poseidonos Avenue and Vouliagmenis Avenue.

By late afternoon, the Fire Service had received more than 40 calls, mostly for pumping water from flooded basements and ground-floor premises. On several key roads, water levels rose within minutes, turning stretches of the network into impassable streams.

In central Athens, a section of Mitropoleos Street subsided, creating a large hole that forced authorities to close the downhill lane at a nearby junction.

In Pikermi, heavy water accumulation led to the suspension of traffic on Agios Christoforou Street and in both directions from the junction with Bacchou Street.

Firefighters were also called to the Gouva area of Pagrati after severe flooding left vehicles stranded.

At the same time, the storms caused a marked rise in the level and flow of the Ilissos River near Moschato and the ISAP station. Flooding covered surrounding roads, further disrupting traffic.

According to the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO), power cuts occurred in Pagrati, Vyronas and Gyzi and were expected to be restored shortly.

Severe weather is forecast to continue in the coming hours. Heavy rain and thunderstorms that began in western Greece are expected to move across central and northern mainland regions, reaching the northern and eastern Aegean islands by evening. In some areas, the bad weather is expected to persist into Christmas Day.

Forecast details

Locally intense rain and storms are expected:

• In the Ionian Sea today, Wednesday 24 December, until late at night.
• In Epirus, western Thessaly (Karditsa and Trikala), western and central Sterea (Aitoloakarnania, Evrytania and Fokida) and the western Peloponnese until the early hours of Christmas Day.
• In western Macedonia temporarily on the night of Christmas Eve.
• In central Macedonia from Wednesday afternoon until midday on Christmas Day.
• In eastern Macedonia and the islands of the north-eastern Aegean from Wednesday evening until Thursday afternoon.

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