Western parts of Greece bear brunt of downpours
Hundreds of homes and streets were flooded in Messolonghi, Preveza, Nafpaktos, Patra and other parts of Western Greece on Saturday due to heavy rains.
In Messolonghi in particular, local authorities had to bring out earth-moving machines to build an embankment that would help divert floodwater from the local technical college after a pumping station nearby was damaged by lightning.
The Greek capital was not spared either, as the fire department received over 100 calls within just a few hours to pump water from basements and shops, and to cut down tree branches that had snapped in strong winds.
The wet front was expected to shift to the east on Sunday, bringing downpours to a few of the islands of the northern Aegean, as well as to parts of Macedonia and Thrace.
The national weather service (HNMS) has forecast sporadic showers and the occassional storm in most parts of the country next week.