ATHENS — Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is being briefed regularly by Nikos Hardalias, deputy minister for Civil Protection and Crisis Management, on the management of problems created by the sweep of the weather phenomenon "Ianos" through mainland Greece, government sources said on Saturday.

Ianos, a "Medicane" or Mediterranean hurricane, landed at the Ionian Islands on Thursday night before moving east towards Central Greece, where it also wreaked havoc. So far it has cost the lives of two people, while reports of missing persons have also been filed.

Mitsotakis ordered that Deputy Ministers Theodoros Livanios (Interior) and Kostas Skrekas (Agricultural Development), along with Infrastructure Secretary General Giorgos Karagiannis, travel to hard-hit areas for an on-the-ground review of damages.

"All efforts focus on the top priority of protecting human lives," the premier said, while all necessary measures to financially support those affected will be coming soon.

In a Twitter post, the prime minister expressed his condolences for the deaths of people due to the hurricane and reiterated his message of support to areas hard-hit by the Medicane. "I want to express my condolences for our fellow-Greeks who died because of Ianos and to call on citizens to remain vigilant as long as the phenomenon lasts. What is most important right now is to protect human lives. All affected areas will get immediate support," he said in his tweet.