Hardalias: Hurricane expected mild in Attica, tougher on eastern coast of Peloponnese

The Mediterranean hurricane ("Medicane") phenomenon "Ianos" that hit Greece as of late Thursday and caused the death of two people and great destruction in western and central Greece, may not be severe in Attica, Civil Protection Deputy Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias said on Saturday, but some areas need to nevertheless remain on alert.
"The phenomenon appears to be weakening in Attica, but we must remain vigilant in Arcadia - especially Leonidio -, the Argolid and Cythera island," Hardalias warned, speaking of the Peloponnese. 
Meteorological reports say Ianos, which hit the Ionian Islands on Thursday night before moving east, is also moving south. They warned that Crete will expect heavy rainfall and thunderstorms on Sunday, which will end by afternoon.
People in the Peloponnese areas mentioned above should "remain at home, avoid movement outside and go to the highest part of the house in case of floods," Hardalias said, adding that the Civil Protection services are all on alert until the phenomenon dissipates.
Asked about problems in roads and power supply in several Greek areas affected by Ianos, the minister said that the government had had three different conferences on Saturday morning that dispatched ministers to the areas and tried to restore electricity, particularly in the Ionian Islands and in some remote areas, until all affected systems are restored.

Karditsa farmer the second casualty of 'Ianos'
A farmer who went missing in Karditsa, central Greece when the Mediterranean hurricane (Medicane) "Ianos" struck Thessaly, was found dead on Saturday.
The man is the second casualty of the Medicane, which arrived in Greece on Thursday night and created havoc on the Ionian Islands before moving east. He was a farmer of Albanian origin, 63, who was being sought by his son since Friday. Firefighters and his son found his body in the area behind the Karditsa hospital.
The first victim of the hurricane was an older woman who was found dead in her home at the Vassili community near Farsala, where several people were rescued from homes and the local church.
Also missing are a woman, 40, from Mouzaki, another village near Karditsa, who was carried away in her car when she tried to drive across the flooded road near Pamissos River. A farmer from Magoulitsa, in the same metropolitan region, is missing as of Friday.
Meanwhile, three workers at the artificial lake/reservoir near Almiros, Volos who had been trapped by flood waters since Friday were rescued by the Fire Brigade. A total of 18 firefighters in flood gear, a special tracked vehicle and a rescue boat were involved in the operation.
Since Ianos hit landfall overnight on September 17 to 06.00 on Saturday morning, the Fire Brigade has received a total of 2,450 throughout Greece for help and pumping out of flood water. Most calls for help came from the southern Ionian Islands, western Greece (which, along with sections of NW Peloponnese, were under a state of emergency on Friday), Central Greece and Thessaly. Several operations are still active, while the total calls include 619 completed rescues.
The Civil Protection General Secretariat (Citizen Protection Ministry) has been issuing alerts at least since Thursday, while it remains on alert and coordinates operations.

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