Snow blankets Athens, Greek islands and Turkey’s Istanbul

ATHENS – Heavy snowfall disrupted air visitors Monday within the Greek capital of Athens and neighboring Turkey’s largest metropolis of Istanbul, whereas a number of Aegean islands and far of Turkey had been blanketed by snow.

The storm, named Elpida, or “hope” in Greece, snarled visitors in each Athens and Istanbul, a metropolis of 16 million individuals.

Flights out and in of Istanbul Airport had been suspended till 4 a.m. Tuesday (0100 GMT) whereas authorities labored to clear runways in addition to a highway resulting in the airport. In the meantime, public places of work closed early to ease rush-hour congestion.

Flurries had been forecast to proceed over the subsequent few days in Istanbul. Istanbul’s Catastrophe Coordination Heart AKOM says an Icelandic low-pressure system is behind the chilly entrance and precipitation.

In Greece, authorities warned the general public to restrict outside actions to solely important ones on Monday and Tuesday, whereas faculties in lots of areas had been closed. Authorities spokesman Giannis Oikonomou mentioned greater than 46,000 faculty courses throughout the nation had been being held on-line.

Advert

The snow was coming down thick and quick all through the day in central Athens, selecting the marble columns of the traditional Acropolis. Authorities despatched out emergency alerts to cell telephones within the wider Athens space warning of extreme snowfall.

Snow chains had been necessary for vehicles on many roads, whereas vans had been banned from the principle freeway heading north from Athens. However, the icy circumstances and lack of snow chains on some automobiles left visitors snarled for hours on most of the Greek capital’s roads, together with a freeway ring highway and one of many fundamental avenues in Athens.

A number of home and worldwide flights to Athens airport had been cancelled, whereas subway service to the airport was partially suspended as a few of it runs above floor.

The well being ministry introduced that COVID-19 vaccination facilities within the wider Athens area of Attica and on the close by island of Evia would shut at 3 p.m. Monday and would stay closed on Tuesday due to the heavy snowfall.

Advert

Oikonomou mentioned climate circumstances would proceed to be “troublesome” on Tuesday. Civil safety authorities have arrange coordination facilities with the fireplace division, police, the armed forces and native authorities to deal with any issues, he mentioned.

Snow is frequent within the Greek mountains and in northern Greece however is much less frequent in central Athens and on Aegean islands. Final 12 months, the Greek capital was hit by a significant snowstorm that brought on extreme issues, knocking out energy for days in sure neighborhoods and making all streets impassable with out snow chains. 1000’s of bushes collapsed from the load of the snow and ice.

To the north in neighboring Albania on Monday, all elementary and excessive faculties closed for 3 days due to chilly climate. Authorities suggested individuals to keep away from driving. Temperatures reached -17 C (about 1 F) in jap Albania, isolating some areas and inflicting issues for the electrical energy and water provides. Many rural roads have been blocked.

Advert

___

Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania and Suzan Fraser in Istanbul contributed.