A severe storm battered Greece, resulting in heavy flooding and strong gusts. The first fatality was a man crushed by a vehicle in a rural area, while the island of Crete witnessed skies turning red-orange like Mars after storm winds carried Saharan dust particles throughout the atmosphere.
Greece faced severe and unstable weather conditions due to the influence of Storm "Erminio," which has been pounding the country since Wednesday (1 Apr), causing flash floods, strong winds, and dust from North Africa covering the southern regions.
The Greek Fire Service reported one male fatality in the Nea Makri area near Athens early Thursday morning; his body was found beneath a vehicle amid flooding and strong winds.
The situation in the area has reached a critical level, with floodwaters inundating main roads and even the basement of the local police station. Severe damage was reported on Poros Island after a bridge collapsed and several cars were swept away by floodwaters, prompting authorities to close schools in multiple areas for safety.
Meanwhile, on the island of Crete, residents were stunned to see the sky turn deep red and orange. This phenomenon was caused by strong winds carrying massive amounts of dust from the Sahara Desert across the Mediterranean, blanketing the island. Images from the city of Rethymno and the village of Georgioupoli showed thick dust clouds dimming sunlight, disrupting some flights.
The National Meteorological Service issued a red alert for Crete, especially the western and southern parts, from midday until late Thursday, forecasting continued heavy rain, thunderstorms, and possible hail across many areas nationwide.
From Wednesday through Thursday morning, rescue units received over 674 emergency calls, mostly reports of fallen trees in the Attica region. Maritime transport remains paralyzed as strong winds have forced ferries to dock, unable to depart until weather conditions improve.