The weather will deteriorate in most areas of the country from late afternoon until midday on Sunday (05-11-23) with heavy rains and stormswhich will be accompanied by hail and high frequency of lightninginitially in the northwest, gradually in the rest of the west, the north with an extension of the phenomena to the north-eastern mainland, the eastern Aegean and the Dodecanese. The winds on the seas will be strong.

Yesterday Thursday, it took place emergency meeting at the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protectionunder the minister Vasilis Kikiliain view of Emergency Weather Deterioration Bulletin (EDEK) issued by the National Meteorological Service.

The minister, Vassilis Kikilias, underlined that the entire Civil Protection mechanism is being alerted and stressed to all participants the need for full preparednessin order that to take the necessary preventive measures and to deal immediately with any problems that may arise due to weather phenomena.

Alongside, Citizens are strongly advised to be very careful, follow the instructions of the authorities and take all the necessary self-protection measures, in accordance with the guidelines of the Public Health Service.

Recommendations of the GPPP

The General Secretariat of Civil Protection addressed recommendations to citizens to be particularly careful, taking care to take self-protection measures against risks arising from the occurrence of severe weather phenomena.

Particularly, in areas where heavy rains, storms or gale-force winds are predicted, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation recommends that citizens:

* Secure objects which if carried away by severe weather may cause damage or injury.

* Make sure that the gutters and downspouts of the houses are not blocked and are working properly.

* Avoid crossing streams and rivers, on foot or by vehicle, during storms and rainfallbut also for several hours after the end of their event

* Avoid outdoor work and activities in marine and coastal areas during severe weather events (risk of lightning strikes).

* Take shelter immediately during a hailstorm. Take shelter in a building or car and do not leave the safe area until they are sure the storm has passed. Hail can be very dangerous for animals too.

* Avoid passing under large treesunder posted signs and generally from areas where light objects (e.g. pots, broken glass etc.) can become detached and fall to the ground (e.g. under balconies).

* To faithfully follow the instructions of the local authoritiessuch as Traffic etc.

In areas with intense lightning activity:

If you are at home

* Do not hold electrical appliances or the telephone as lightning can pass through the wires. Disconnect the TV sets from the antenna and the power supply.

* Avoid touching plumbing pipes (kitchen, bathroom) as they are good conductors of electricity.

If you are in the car

* Park it on the side of the road and away from trees that might fall on it.

* Stay inside and turn on your stop lights (emergency lights) until the storm passes.

* Close windows and do not touch metal objects.

* Avoid flooded roads.

If you are outdoors

* Take refuge in a building or car or sit on the ground immediately without lying down.

* Take cover under solid branches of low trees if you are in the woods.

* Never take shelter under a tall tree in an open area.

* Avoid low-lying lands for the risk of flooding.

* Do not stand next to utility poles, power lines, telephone lines and fences.

* Do not go near metal objects (eg cars, bikes, camping gear, etc.).

* Stay away from rivers, lakes or other bodies of water.

* If you are in the sea, get out immediately.

* If you are isolated on a flat surface and feel your hair stand on end (indicating that lightning is about to strike), sit deep with your head between your legs (to minimize your body surface and contact with ground) by throwing the metal objects you have on you.

The General Secretariat of Civil Protection (civilprotection.gov.gr) of the Ministry of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection, has informed the competent government agencies involved in the service, as well as the regions and municipalities of the country, so that they are on increased civil protection readiness, in order to face directly the effects of the occurrence of intense weather phenomena.

At the same time, according to an announcement by the Fire Brigade, the operational plans are being implemented to deal with the risks of floods, as well as their accompanying phenomena, while the Fire Services of the areas where the phenomena are expected to occur, have been placed in a state of heightened readiness and further escalation if required, in order to deal immediately with any problems arising from the occurrence of severe weather phenomena.

For information and announcements regarding the prevailing situation and the passability of the road network due to the inflow of flood waters, citizens can visit the website of ELAS www.astynomia.gr.

For more information and self-protection instructions from severe weather, citizens can visit the website of the General Secretariat of Civil Protection at civilprotection.gov.gr.