ATHENS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Severe storm "Erminio" swept across Greece on Wednesday, causing widespread transport disruptions, infrastructure damage and significant impact on daily life.
The island of Crete, in southern Greece, was among the hardest-hit areas, with gale-force winds reaching 10 to 11 Beaufort, heavy rainfall, and one of the most intense Saharan dust episodes in recent years, sharply reducing visibility and forcing schools to close, according to Greek national broadcaster ERT.
On Poros, an island in the Saronic Gulf, southern Greece, flooding turned roads into torrents and caused a bridge collapse, prompting authorities to shut down schools as a precaution.
In the greater Athens area, fallen trees, flooded streets and traffic disruptions were reported, with the fire brigade receiving more than 130 emergency calls.
Transport services were also severely affected. Strong winds forced the suspension of ferry services, including the Rio-Antirrio route in western Greece, while flights in several regions, including Chania and Heraklion in southern Crete, were canceled or diverted due to poor visibility.
Authorities warned that the risk of flooding and related hazards may increase in the coming hours as the storm system continues to affect multiple regions. ■
