AFTER THE FIRES – Heavy storms smash Corfu

A precautionary warning was sent on Saturday via the emergency number 112 to residents in the Ionian Sea region and Epirus ahead of oncoming heavy rain storms, civil protection reported.

The weather front, codenamed ‘Petar’ by Italy’s weather services, is moving eastwards over Greece and is expected to affect northern and western Greece regions from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. Greece’s EMY weather portal added that it includes substantial hail and lightning phenomena.

Areas affected the most include the islands of Corfu, Paxoi, Kefalonia, Lefkada and Ithaki, and Epirus, western mainland regions and western Macedonia. At the same time, the northern Peloponnese will also be affected as of late Saturday night.

Meanwhile, a group of 10 tourists was safely transferred away from Porto Timoni beach in Corfu as adverse weather conditions gripped the island on Saturday.

Approaching them in the middle of a heavy storm, a private boat took them to Agios Georgios Pagon beach, with additional mobilisation by the Fire Brigade and the Hellenic Coast Guard.

Heavy storms and high winds have been affecting the Ionian island since 15:30 on Saturday. At the same time, a precautionary warning was issued to residents in the Ionian Sea region earlier in the day via emergency number 122.

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