WILD weather has hit a Greek holiday hotspot, with roads being turned into rivers due to torrential rain and flash flooding.
Videos of the aftermath of the heavy rainfall in Athens posted to social media show cars floating down streets and torrential rain making it impossible for drivers to see.
Storm Byron has left residents across Athens unable to leave their homes, as the city experienced the heaviest day of rainfall in more than a decade, according to natural disaster management the expert of Theodore Kondylis.
Flood water has trapped residents inside their homes, with no way to go about their normal daily business.
One man told local media that he was “waiting for the water to go away, to go to our jobs“.
On Thursday, more than 250mm of rain fall was recorded at the Vlychada, a water catchment station located on the outskirts of the Greek city.
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Athens has not been the only area to be hit by Storm Byron, as regions across Greece have been thrown into wild weather chaos.
The storm has disrupted public services, caused severe travel delays and forced widespread school closures, as thunderstorms are forecast to rage on.
Intense downpours have hit Attica, the southern and eastern Peloponnese, Crete, eastern Central Greece, Evia, the Sporades, eastern Thessaly, central Macedonia and islands of the eastern and northern Aegean.
Emergency alerts have been set out via the 112 system, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to remain out of basements and ground floors.
Flash flooding has been reported in Mandra, Alimos and Keratsini, and the Athens-Corinth national highway was closed between Elefsina and Corinth due to the deluge of water.
Emergency services received 113 calls between Thursday and Friday in just the Attica and Peloponnese regions.
Meteorologist and New Democracy MP Yannis Kallianos said Storm Byron could be the “worst to hit Attica” in 2025.
“[The storm] Byron is so far the strongest weather system that has hit Attica for 2025,” he said.
“Unless … an even more intense phenomenon is recorded within the 25 days remaining until the end of the year.
“Storm Byron is a typical example of how quickly dangerous conditions can be created,” he added.
Residents were commonly calling for help with water pumping and tree removals, as well as assistance for drivers stuck in their vehicles.
As the storm front continues to smash Greek regions, people in Elefsina fear the Sarantaporos River may overflow.
The Attica Region closed all primary and secondary schools on Friday, due to the weather, as the Interior Ministry said public-sector employees who were unable to reach their workplaces would be considered on lawful absence.
Commuters were also urged only to travel “under safe conditions”.
The national meteorological service (EMY) has forecast continued downpours and thunderstorms through Friday morning.
Affected areas are slated to include Macedonia, Thessaly, the Sporades, eastern Central Greece, Evia, the Cyclades, Crete, the eastern Aegean islands, the Dodecanese and the eastern and southern Peloponnese.