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Two people were killed in Greece on Wednesday after violent winds and heavy rainfall battered large parts of the country, flooding roads and forcing ferries to remain in port.
Maritime Affairs Minister Vassilis Kikilias said a coastguard officer died while on duty in the coastal town of Astros in eastern Peloponnese.
Reports said the officer was struck by a wave while urging local fishermen to leave the area as conditions worsened.
Later in the day, state broadcaster ERT reported that a woman died in the Athens suburb of Glyfada after being knocked down by a car carried along by floodwaters.
The storm, which moved eastwards across the country, brought winds exceeding 100 kilometres per hour, prompting authorities in Athens and parts of western and southern Greece to close schools.
Meteorologists said some areas, including sections of the capital, recorded rainfall equivalent to six weeks within a short period.
Authorities have warned the public to avoid non-essential travel and discouraged outdoor work.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also postponed a planned trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos because of the severe weather.
Greece has suffered repeated deadly floods in recent years, prompting calls for stronger flood-control measures.
In September 2023, storms devastated the Thessaly region, killing 17 people and wiping out thousands of farm animals, while heavy rains in Mandra near Athens in November 2017 left 25 people dead.
Experts continue to urge major infrastructure upgrades, particularly around the greater Athens area, where rapid urbanisation and covered waterways have increased flood risks.
