Torrential rains, the worst this autumn, and strong winds caused traffic problems and material damages across several Athens and Piraeus port districts on Friday, authorities said.

The Fire Brigade received approximately 600 telephone calls throughout the day to pump water out of flooded basements of homes and stores and remove fallen trees from streets.

Drivers were briefly trapped in cars which were swept away by streams in some parts of the Greek capital. But no injuries have been reported.

In some suburbs citizens complained that damages could be avoided if drainage grates had been cleaned by municipal authorities.

Fire Brigade and city services remain on alert, as meteorologists forecast that storms will continue until next week.

Temperatures have gradually dropped across Greece this week after a warm September and October.

In mountainous areas in the northern part of the country snow has fallen for first time this autumn over the past few hours. Enditem

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