Parts of Greece declared disaster areas after bad weather by Laura Gilchrist
A low pressure system in the eastern Mediterranean has brought strong winds and heavy rain to Greece, including the island of Crete.
The Hania area of northwestern Crete and two Aegean islands were under a state of emergency on Wednesday, after heavy rain flooded homes, businesses and holiday accommodation. Firefighters on Crete were called out to drain buildings and rescue people trapped in their cars by the floodwaters. The airport near the Cretan town of Chania recorded 104 millimetres (4.1 inches) of rain in just twelve hours on Tuesday, and the islands of Astypalaia and Leros, landslides triggered by the intense rainfall blocked roads.
As well as the heavy rain, strong winds were causing disruption. Steady wind speeds in the Aegean were reported to have reached to Force 10 on the Beaufort scale, over 50 miles per hour (80 km/h). Sea-going traffic was disrupted, with many ships seeking shelter in port, and flights around Greece were cancelled or diverted.
The rain was accompanied by a drop in temperature, brought by the strong northerly wind. In Athens the mercury fell to 13 degrees Celsius (55°F), a drop of eight degrees, whilst some northern Greek towns saw temperatures dip to around 4°C (39°F).
The weather should improve by the weekend as the low pressure system moves away.
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