Diliana Ivanova

Global warming has obviously not yet arrived in Athens, which this summer is unusually wet from the almost daily rains. This is what happened today, when at 02:00PM started a pouring rain. The followed thunderstorm was accompanied with hail, which cut off the power in many houses.

For a moment, even mobile communications were blocked for many mobile providers.

The strong wind put down 6 trees, which blocked important roads and special teams from the municipality were needed, in order to take them and free the boulevards. The rain water was flooding the area around the Iraklio metro station (on the photo), which made it hard for people and cars to move around. Damaged was the ticket validation system for the electric train, which connects Kifisia and Pieria and passengers, had to get off at the following stops in order to validate their tickets.

Firefighters received numerous calls for flooded houses, stores and restaurants in the northern suburbs Iraklio, Nea Ionia and Metamorfosi. The trolley depot in Nea Ionia was also flooded. The pouring rain caused two car accidents, fortunately without any victims.

Gradually, from the northern suburbs in Athens, the storm moved towards the center, where it was quickly scattered by the sunny and calm weather.