Severe flash floods hit central Athens and its surrounding areas as storm Atena swept through Greece, bringing torrential rain and chaos to the capital.
The heavy rainfall impacted neighbourhoods like Chaidari, Petroupoli, Zephyri, Peristeri, and northern suburbs including Maroussi, Chalandri, Penteli, and Vrilissia. Central areas like Kypseli and Patissia were also severely affected, with streets quickly turning into rivers.
Pedestrians and motorcyclists struggled to navigate the flooded streets, and many sought cover from the intense downpour. The fire department’s operational centre received 51 emergency calls in Attica, with 34 involving water pumping, 8 for tree removals, and 9 for rescuing people trapped in elevators.
In one incident, passengers on a bus in the northern suburb of Galatsi were stranded for an extended period due to flooding, unable to exit the vehicle.
As the storm hit Attica around 5:30 p.m., emergency services worked to address the damage. Authorities issued further weather warnings via the 112 emergency service for residents in Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and surrounding islands, advising them to limit travel due to dangerous conditions expected from Tuesday evening.