Winter storm Elpis due to hit Israel on Wednesday, continues to cover Greece in a blanket of snow, as rescue crews on Monday overnight, including Greek military personnel, struggled to salvage people stuck in their cars on a road blocked by snow to Athens.
The Elpis blizzard, brought down heavy snow on the capital, and some drivers were forced to abandon their cars and walk through the snow in order to get to safety.
The rescue operation is ongoing and so far some 3,500 people were rescued, and some 1,200 cars remain stranded on the roads around Athens.
"We had a very difficult night, and we made great efforts to evacuate the drivers stuck in the snowstorm," the Greek authorities said on Tuesday. "We are still at a very difficult stage, and according to the weather forecast, new challenges are expected."
Heavy snow in Greece
(Video: Reuters)
Overnight, temperatures dropped as soldiers distributed food, water, and blankets to drivers. Some stranded in their cars for more than 10 hours.
Train and bus services in the capital were suspended. COVID-19 vaccination facilities in the wider Athens region and on the nearby island of Evia were closed, health officials said.
State services, schools, non-essential shops, and banks in the capital and on many Greek islands, including Crete, will remain shut on Tuesday as the cold spell was expected to last until Wednesday.
In some areas of Athens, electrical blackouts were recorded on Tuesday, and the local power company said that teams were trying to restore the system to full function.
In Turkey, mostly in Istanbul, the stormy weather continues to surge on Tuesday. As a result, flights were suspended and the city's main airport until 10 AM (local time). In addition, the governor of Istanbul prohibited private vehicles from moving through the streets until 10 AM due to the heavy snow covering the roads, and in order to allow authorities to clear snow off the streets.
Turkish media broadcast images of trucks and cars stuck on the side of the road across Istanbul, and around the country, some 4,600 people were stranded as thousands were evacuated to temporary shelters.
Many workers in the public sector received a day off to reduce traffic on the roads in Istanbul.
Pictures from Istanbul Airport, one of the largest in the world, showed heavy snow along the airstrip and landing strip. Turkish Airlines announced that they have canceled all flights from this airport that were meant for Monday.
In Jerusalem, municipal teams were bracing for snow expected as of Tuesday afternoon and through Wednesday morning, in the first snow storm of the year in the capital.
City officials said they were prepared to assist any stranded travelers and that they would attempt to keep roads in and out of the city, clear from obstructions.
The municipality called on residents to receive updates via local media reports and on the city's website.
First published: 15:38, 01.25.22