Chaos in Athens: Snowfall paralyzed traffic and stopped air traffic (video)

In the morning Athens and around the metropolitan area of ​​Attica is a heavy snowfall. Due to ice and snow drifts, the public transport network has almost completely stopped its work, the main roads are closed to traffic or clogged with cars that are stuck in traffic jams.

Video: Motorists stuck on Mesogion Avenue in the center of Athens for almost 2 hours. There is no official explanation…

There are first reports of a power outage in the northeast of Athens.

Part of the Athens-Lamia highway was closed. Flights are canceled at Athens International Airport.

More than 100 public transport routes have been taken out of service, state broadcaster ERT reported at 2:00 pm an hour later, saying buses and trolleybuses would be taken out of service in the late afternoon.

Video: Snow in the area of ​​​​Agia Paraskevi, the northern region of Athens

Once again on Monday morning, the Civil Protection Service sent an emergency message <112> to the people of Athens to avoid any non-essential movements due to “very heavy snowfall in the regions in the coming hours.”

Video: Snow on the Acropolis

Civil services and the regional government assure that they are doing everything possible to keep the roads open, but the collapse seems inevitable, even though the state mechanism has repeatedly repeated in recent days that it is on the alert and ready to deal with snowy weather.

Video: road to Oropos, eastern Attica

With public transport on the verge of collapse, government spokesman Yannis Oikonomou did not rule out declaring tomorrow, Tuesday, a “day off” due to extreme weather events.

Meanwhile…

Mayor Katehaki Avenue was closed to traffic, causing many problems for motorists on Mesogion Avenue in the center of Athens and Vouliagmenis Avenue in southern Athens. The tram does not reach Syntagma Square, it stops at the Vouliagmeni stop. The metro does not reach Athens International Airport, passengers have to transfer to Proastiakos. Many buses and trolleybuses have problems.

At noon on Monday, the government sent civil servants home, as soon it will be possible to move around the Greek capital and suburbs only on foot.

The authorities asked suspend food orders through couriers because of the danger on the roads for mopeds, bicycles and scooters used by food trucks.

It looks like motorists may need snow chains even in the center of Athens.

The governor of Attica told the media that more than 4,000 tons of salt were used to restore traffic on the roads, but only for the main roads.

Many, including the state-owned ERT TV, are wondering what would happen if the state mechanism was not ready … (is it ready?)

Attica Odos bypass at Maroussi level

The governor of the metropolitan area, Georgios Patoulis, indirectly blamed the famous Greek “bureaucracy” because the roads are run by the regional government or municipalities.

Schools will remain closed and on Tuesday, January 25, when the authorities will make a decision on Wednesday afternoon.

reported that appointments for Covid-19 vaccinations have been suspended from 15:00 today and tomorrow in Attica and Evia, and citizens can book new appointments at emvolio.gov.gr.

According to the National Meteorological Service (EMY), the main characteristics of the second wave of snowy weather of the cyclone under the frankly mocking name of Elpis – (Hope in Russian) will be very low temperatures, heavy snowfalls even in the lowlands of northern and eastern Greece, as well as on the islands of the Aegean Sea, northerly winds will blow with a force of 8-9 on the Beaufort scale.

PLEASE think of homeless animals who need extra calories to cope with the cold.

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