In Athens, many cars were trapped by water. Floods inundated the neighborhoods of Mandra, Nea Peramos, and Megara. Residents reported severe traffic disruptions and chaos on the streets.
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The National Weather Service has issued an emergency advisory. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain will persist until Saturday morning. Pieria, Imathia, and Pella are currently under attack. Chalkidiki, Thessaloniki, and Kilkis are also suffering from severe weather. Thessaly and the Sporades are experiencing dangerous storm aftereffects. Euboea, the Cyclades, and Crete will remain in heavy rain until midday.
The islands of the eastern Aegean Sea and the Dodecanese are also at risk. The fire department received over 300 calls in the last 24 hours. People are asking for help pumping water and removing trees. The situation in Attica and the Peloponnese remains extremely tense. The risk assessment committee is preparing a new meeting. Greece is meeting the disaster with anxiety and hope for quick relief. The Flood of the Century in Greece: Storm Byron Paralyzed Athens. END
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Tragedy in Greece! Vehicles and property swept away, worst flooding in Attica [IDH Weather News from UK since 2019]Attica, Greece - December 5, 2025 [footage]
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The passage of storm "Byron" is severe, affecting all of Greece, causing major problems. In Attica, heavy rainfall has been occurring since midday on Thursday, causing serious problems on the road network, while lightning activity is also quite intense. Since yesterday afternoon, heavy rainfall has been occurring, which continued during the night, causing flooding in Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, while there are several problems on the road network of Attica with many vehicles immobilized on the roads. [footage]
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Heavy rainfall and strong storms occurred in Attica during the night, causing serious problems on the road network and in the infrastructure of the capital. The continuous rains have turned roads into rivers, while flooding in basements and falling trees have been recorded, such as in Nea Erythraia.
The Byron storm is pounding western Attica in the morning hours with heavy rains and storms, causing significant problems in areas such as Megara, Nea Peramos and Mandra. [footage]
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Several videos circulating on social media show cars stuck and even floating on roads that resemble rivers. Some residents were even trapped inside their cars. However, there are currently no known casualties. The heavy rains have led to flooded roads, while trees have fallen in several areas. [footage]
At dawn, a message was sent from 112 to the residents of Megara to move from basements and ground floors of buildings to higher floors due to the development of flooding phenomena. Specifically, a message from 112 was sent shortly after 4 am to the residents of the areas of Lakka Kalogirou and Almyres of the Municipal Unit of Megara, Attica, due to the ongoing flooding phenomena. [footage]
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A message from 112 was sent to residents of Mandra calling on them to avoid traveling and to move away from underground and ground floor areas of buildings due to flooding. Specifically, the message states: “If you are in the Municipality of Mandra Eidyllias, avoid traveling. Move away from underground and ground floor areas of buildings on a higher floor due to the development of flooding. Follow the instructions of the Authorities.” [footage]
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The Fire Department is on full operational readiness, responding to dozens of calls for pumping water, cutting trees and transporting citizens to safe places. The authorities are calling on citizens to be particularly careful and to follow the protection instructions. Chaos also on the streets of the Northern Suburbs where the storms continue into the early morning hours. END
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0:20 Mandra, Greece - December 5, 2025. Greece Under Water: Storm Byron Sweeps Through Mandra, Turning Streets Into Rivers as Attica Faces Overnight Chaos Amid Rising Floodwaters. On December 5, 2025, the town of Mandra in western Attica, about 20 kilometers northwest of the capital, was once again hit hard by flooding and landslides caused by Storm Byron. Streets turned into raging rivers. Homes and businesses were submerged in mud, recalling the tragic 2017 flood that killed 24 people. Fortunately, this time no deaths were reported in Greece.
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This image shows workers operating heavy machinery to clear a road blocked by a landslide in Mandra, western Attica, about 20 kilometers west of Athens, on December 5, 2025. On Friday, Storm Byron continued to strike Greece for the second day, triggering widespread flooding that severely disrupted daily life and tested the national disaster-response system. Although major damage was reported in several regions, no fatalities occurred. Authorities considered this a positive outcome of improved preparedness measures introduced after past disasters.
From early Friday morning, many parts of Greece were hit by prolonged heavy rain and violent thunderstorms. Streets were heavily flooded, transportation was paralyzed, and many homes were submerged. Images showed cars swept away or stranded in fast-moving water, while residents sought refuge on upper floors to avoid danger. The severe weather had been forecast days in advance, but the impact exceeded expectations, especially in Attica, the country’s economic, transportation, and population hub.
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This image shows a resident walking along a road blocked by a landslide in Mandra, western Attica, about 20 kilometers west of central Athens, on December 5, 2025. Among the hardest-hit areas, Mandra in West Attica remained the epicenter of flooding. The town, located 20 kilometers from Athens, had endured a deadly flood in 2017 that killed 24 people. Those painful memories resurfaced as floodwaters surged rapidly, turning streets into rivers and dragging mud through shops, homes, and vehicles.
Even so, authorities confirmed no casualties this time, partly thanks to new anti-flood infrastructure built over recent years. Local officials admitted, however, that drainage systems still require upgrades, as extreme weather is becoming more frequent due to climate change. According to the National Observatory of Athens, rainfall in Nea Peramos - near Mandra - reached 251 millimeters in just 12 hours, ranking among the highest 24-hour totals recorded in Greece since 2008. This number reflects the unusual strength of the weather system named Byron.
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From Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea to Peloponnese, and across Crete, Rhodes, and the Aegean islands, heavy rain, storms, and strong winds caused severe damage to farmland, homes, and transport infrastructure. This photo shows workers using heavy machinery to clear a flooded road in Mandra, western Attica, about 20 kilometers west of Athens, on December 5, 2025.
Before the storm hit, Greek authorities activated the 112 emergency alert system, sending repeated messages to residents in affected regions. People were urged to avoid travel and stay away from basements and ground floors - areas prone to sudden flooding. In many cases, residents were instructed to move to higher levels for safety. These warnings were particularly crucial in Megara, Nea Peramos, and Mandra, where water levels rose quickly at night, leaving some residents trapped in cars or homes.
In Attica, transportation was severely disrupted. The Athens - Corinth highway, the main route linking the capital with the west, was closed between Elefsina and Corinth due to flooding and large amounts of mud covering the road. Long queues formed before the toll station, making travel nearly impossible. A temporary lane was opened later to ease congestion, but traffic remained slow for hours. In parts of Athens especially in the western and northern districts - heavy rain caused traffic lights to fail and underpasses to flood, endangering pedestrians and vehicles. Tram Line 7 was suspended because water accumulated on tracks near Glyfada beach. Major roads saw vehicles moving slowly through deep water.
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Within 48 hours, the Greek Fire Service received nearly 600 calls for assistance, mostly related to water pumping, fallen trees, and rescuing people trapped in cars or homes. In Attica alone, there were 290 water-pumping requests, 27 tree-removal calls, and 12 rescue operations. Videos sent by residents to local media showed the severity of the situation: floodwaters in Mandra overflowing across the streets as streams swelled, submerging both lanes toward Athens. Despite extensive damage, authorities said the most positive outcome was that no casualties were reported. They attributed this to the early-warning system and improved public awareness following past disasters.
However, many residents expressed frustration, arguing that response measures remain insufficient. Some pointed out that repeated flooding in the same areas shows that drainage systems have not been adequately improved, leaving communities at risk whenever heavy rain occurs.
Schools in Attica were forced to close on Friday to ensure student safety. The Interior Ministry announced that civil servants unable to reach their workplaces due to the storm would be considered legally absent. The measure aimed to reduce unnecessary travel, lower accident risks, and ease pressure on rescue teams already operating at full capacity. Meanwhile, 12 of Greece’s 13 regions were placed under “red alert” - the highest warning level - until Saturday.
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The National Meteorological Service predicted that severe weather would continue at least until midday Saturday before possibly easing. Authorities maintained heightened alert due to concerns that accumulated floodwater from previous days could trigger more stream overflows, landslides, or road collapses.
With heavy rainfall, many agricultural zones in Peloponnese, Thessaly, and the Aegean islands suffered major damage. Crops were submerged, farms became isolated, and goods could not be transported. Some coastal areas reported strong winds and high waves that damaged small fishing boats. In Crete and Rhodes, floodwater entered low-lying neighborhoods, prompting rescue teams to patrol continuously through the night to assist residents.
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Meteorologists said the Byron weather system formed from a low-pressure zone combined with cold air, producing unusually heavy rainfall. In recent years, Greece has experienced increasingly extreme weather events, including flash floods, record heat waves, and large wildfires. Experts said these are direct consequences of climate change, with rising frequency and intensity of natural disasters requiring significant infrastructure upgrades to safeguard communities. END
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