ZAKYNTHOS/CEPHALONIA. Extreme weather conditions in Zakynthos, Cephalonia and Ithaka since Thursday night - State and local authority mechanism on full alert.
Cephalonia, Ithaka and Zakynthos were hit hard by 'Ianos' last night.
The Kilini-Zakynthos and Kilini-Cephalonia ferry services are not operating today due to the strong winds in areas of Western Greece.
The ferry service between Rio and Antirio is also not operating. According to the National Meteorological Service, the winds in the west of the country are WNW Force 6 to 7 and in the Ionian Force 8 to 9 with some local winds at Force 10 which are gradually weakening.
On Thursday night the strong winds and rain caused chaos for Zakynthos residents. From 3 o'clock on Friday morning conditions intensified with winds of up to Force 10 and 11 and downpours.
There was damage in the village of Katastari, where the strong winds blew the roof off a house with people in it but, fortunately, without causing any injuries. In Zakynthos port a yacht which was moored there sank. There are fallen trees throughout the island which the Civil Protection Service and Regional Services are inspecting.
Several areas in Zakynthos, such as Kalamaki, Argasi, Vanato, Lagopodo, Katastari, Mouzaki and Alykes have no electricity and DEDDIE crews are attempting, in difficult conditions, to restore power.
In Kalamaki, Zakynthos an electricity pylon caught fire near to a hotel. Firefighters rushed to the scene along with crews from the Regional Services and DEDDIE. The fire was extinguished immediately but work will be needed today. From the damage caused by the fire electricity was cut off from a local hotel with tourists and about ten houses.
Regional crews have also been working on ditches in Argasi and Alikana which had been flooded.
The Coast Guard, Fire Department and police have been patrolling the area constantly and since yesterday people have been advised not to go out unnecessarily.
The island's schools have also been closed since yesterday.
There have been strong winds and rain in Cephalonia since Thursday night.
The Mayor of Argostoli Theofilos Michalatos told Mega Channel that Municipal crews are removing branches from trees that have fallen and the lower area of the town has been flooded.
Roads have been closed to traffic at danger spots and a lot of areas have no electricity.
Ithaka also has serious problems with electricity. Mayor Dionysis Stanitsas told Mega Channel that roads have suffered serious damage and shops and houses have been flooded.
Great efforts are also being made to save boats in the harbour as well as houses where roof tiles have come off.
The island hasn't had electricity since 3 o'clock this morning and several trees have been uprooted. Up to now there has been no danger to lives.
An anchored yacht with a Swiss flag was blown onto rocks by the strong winds in Schinou on the eastern side of Ithaka. The two people on board were able to get off the boat and reach the coast and are well.
There Force 8 winds in the area where the boat was anchored.
The areas on Red Alert in the coming hours are Aitoloakarnania, Ilias, Achaia, Messinia, Cephalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaka.
The latest forecasts indicate that 'Ianos' is changing direction slightly and it is not expected to go inland in the Peloponnese. Heavy rain is forecast - up to 200 tons per stremma - which, if confirmed, will cause considerable flooding and serious problems.
The Professor of Natural Disaster Management at Athens University Efthymios Lekkas told ERT that the most likely scenario is for the cyclone to move southwards after hitting Western Greece and the mainland and will not affect Athens.
He estimates that if it moves in this direction, there will be serious damage as cyclones that travel parallel to coastlines are those that cause the greatest destruction and release large amounts of rainfall over the mainland.
For this reason, he added, "the possibility of evacuating coastal areas is being looked into".
With information from AMNA
Photos / Videos: Imerazante.gr / Kefaloniapress.gr / Inkefalonia.gr
