Greek civil protection authorities were on high alert across the country on Saturday, as a rare cyclone-like depression was made landfall in the extreme southwest overnight and was winding its way in a northeasterly course.
The weather front was dropping torrential rains on the greater Athens area early Saturday, accompanied by earlier gale force winds, while also adversely affecting the eastern coast of the Peloponnese and the eastern mainland coast.
The storm, named “Xenophon” but dubbed “Zorbas” by the media, emerged in the central Mediterranean in the middle of last week.
Winds of up to 90 kph were reported as the storm moved past the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese. It then lashed the northeastern part of the peninsula and traveled closer to Athens, the Greek capital.
People were evacuated from the eastern Peloponnese seaside village of Nea Kios, which was partly flooded and without electricity. Elsewhere in the Peloponnese region, rivers overflowed and some damage has been reported.
Most ferry boat routes connecting the mainland with various islands were cancelled.
A flight from London to the southwestern city of Kalamata was diverted to Athens, but weather-related flight delays were limited.