A man has died near Athens following a severe storm that has brought gale-force winds and flooding to parts of Greece. Simultaneously, a Saharan dust storm has enveloped the island of Crete, altering the skyscape.

The body of the man was discovered beneath a car in the rural area of Nea Makri early on Thursday. The fire department confirmed the incident. This event occurred as Storm Erminio unleashed its power across the region, causing widespread street flooding, necessitating school closures, and leading to the mooring of ferries.

On Crete, preceding the storm’s arrival, disruptions to air travel were reported on Wednesday. This was due to a different weather phenomenon: dust carried by an African storm filled the air, casting the sky in a distinct red-orange hue.

The national meteorological service has forecast continued adverse weather conditions for Thursday across most of the country. Expect prolonged and heavy rainfall, accompanied by storms. There is also a possibility of localized hail. In Crete, a red alert is in effect, primarily affecting the western and southern parts of the island. This warning is scheduled to last from midday through the late hours of Thursday.

Emergency services have been extensively engaged. The fire department reported receiving 674 calls for assistance between Wednesday and the early hours of Thursday. The Attica region, which includes Athens, accounted for the majority of these calls, with many related to fallen trees.

The high winds have significantly impacted maritime transport, leaving ferries docked in ports. Greek media outlets have suggested that some ferry services might resume on Thursday, contingent upon favorable weather conditions. Elsewhere, streets in Nea Makri experienced flooding, affecting even the basement of the local police station. On the island of Poros, a bridge was reportedly destroyed, and vehicles were swept away. The disruptive weather has also led to the closure of several schools.