Storm Byron has caused significant disruption across southern Greece, hammering multiple regions with severe rainfall, flooding, and powerful thunderstorms. The Attica region has been among the hardest hit, with Megara, Nea Peramos, and Mandra facing widespread damage as streets turned into rivers and trees were uprooted overnight.
Local authorities warned residents in low-lying areas to immediately move from basements and ground-floor homes to higher levels due to growing fears of flash floods. Traffic police reported numerous road closures as floodwater swept through major streets, making travel hazardous and in some cases impossible.
In response to the worsening conditions, all schools and kindergartens in Athens remain closed today. Authorities in Thessaly, the Peloponnese, Central Greece, and the Dodecanese have followed suit, suspending classes to ensure student safety. The Interior Ministry confirmed that civil servants unable to reach their workplaces would not face penalties for absences linked to the storm.
Emergency services have been working relentlessly as calls for assistance surged. Firefighters have responded to hundreds of incidents, including pumping out water from homes and businesses, removing fallen trees, and helping stranded residents escape rising waters.
Officials reported that the heaviest rainfall was seen in Attica and the Peloponnese, with Glyfada recording an extraordinary 120 mm of rain in just six hours and an astonishing 250 mm over 24 hours.
The Cyclades islands have also suffered intense thunderstorms, with residents reporting powerful lightning strikes and hours of continuous rainfall. In the Attica region, traffic disruptions remain widespread. Several key roads have been shut due to flooding, landslides, and debris swept in by strong currents.
On the Peloponnese peninsula, a river near Finikounda overflowed, threatening nearby communities and trapping several people. Fire service crews rescued two German tourists who became stranded inside their flooded caravan, as well as two Hungarian homeowners whose property was suddenly engulfed by water. Even the local mayor was forced to abandon his vehicle to escape rapidly rising floodwaters.
Meteorologists warned that the storm system is continuing to shift north and east, bringing dangerous weather to new regions throughout the day. Heavy rainfall is expected to intensify in Pieria, Imathia, Halkidiki, Thessaly, the Sporades islands, the eastern Aegean, and the Dodecanese. Authorities in these areas are urging residents to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow official safety instructions.
Civil protection agencies emphasized that the storm’s effects could worsen depending on the movement of the storm cells and the already saturated ground in many regions. They warned that flash floods, landslides, and power outages remain likely as rainfall continues.
As Greece grapples with the escalating impact of Storm Byron, emergency efforts are expected to intensify nationwide. Officials continue to urge the public to stay informed through official weather updates and avoid risky areas until the storm fully subsides.