Cold weather grips Greece, snowfall disrupts traffic-Xinhua

Cold weather grips Greece, snowfall disrupts traffic

Source: Xinhua

Editor: huaxia

2022-01-25 06:48:15

A man rides a bicycle in the snow in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 24, 2022.  (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

The severe cold front began sweeping across Greece over the weekend. Meteorologists said that it will recede on Wednesday.

ATHENS, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- An intense cold front was sweeping through Greece on Monday, causing travel disruptions and power outages for several hours in many regions, the local authorities said.

The government has announced widespread closures across the public and private sectors on Tuesday.

The Acropolis hill and the thoroughfares in the capital Athens, and even the city's southern seaside suburbs, were covered in a thick blanket of snow. Uncharacteristically, the bad weather even brought snow to several Aegean Sea islands.

The Attica region, the island of Crete and many Aegean Sea islands were in "a state of special mobilization of Civil Protection," Greece's Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Christos Stylianides announced. The state crisis management mechanism has been activated, citizens have been advised to avoid unnecessary travel.

"We need to take all precautions to avoid casualties," Stylianides said.

 A woman walks in the snow at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 24, 2022. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

Travel disruptions have been reported nationwide. The snowfall temporarily paralyzed traffic on the country's highways, ships remained docked at ports and flights have been canceled, the Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

The army was mobilized to assist the Fire Brigade and police in evacuating hundreds of motorists stranded for hours on highways in the greater Athens area.

Drivers were urged to use snow chains even in the center of the Greek capital.

Greek national broadcaster ERT reported that three passengers were slightly injured in a train collision in central Greece.

 The Acropolis is seen in the snow in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 24, 2022.(Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

"So far we have had a few power cuts only. Tomorrow will also be a difficult day. We all will have to stay on alert," Stylianides told a press conference.

In several parts of the country, schools will remain closed on Tuesday and shift to online classes.

Public sector services and private companies also shifted to teleworking, as the Civil Protection warned citizens against unnecessary movement.

The severe cold front began sweeping across Greece over the weekend. Meteorologists said that it will recede on Wednesday.

 People walk in the snow at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 24, 2022.(Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

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