ATHENS – Significant amounts of rainfall from severe weather began overnight in several regions of the country, including the national capital area are expected for the rest of the day on Sunday in Greece.

According to forecasts of the National Observatory of Athens/Meteo.gr, for the rest of Sunday heavy rains and locally strong storms will continue to occur in many areas of the country, with the intense weather phenomena expected in the evening to be limited to the eastern mainland and the Aegean.

A total of 13 calls regarding fallen trees have been received by the Fire Department in Attica, but no significant problems have arisen from the heavy rainfall.

In Chaidari, lightning struck a palm tree, resulting in a fire which caused damage to an awning and a parked car.

Saturday evening, citizens in Attiki received warning on their cell phones through the 112 system about the approaching storm. They were told they should limit their movements to the absolutely necessary and to follow the instructions of the authorities.

It should be noted that infrastructure improvements in recent years in the region have included a new storm water control system in the southern Athens suburb of Kallithea, where a few years ago ‘fountains’ emerging from burst storm sewer covers caused dangerous amounts of water to cascade down streets. The new sewer works appear to be working property, facilitating the flow of water from storms into Faliron Bay.