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Strong storm in the Ionian Sea
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Dozens of migrants in danger in western Greece
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The severe autumnal storm “Ianos” moved along the coast of the Greek Peloponnese peninsula and caused considerable damage in the process.
Photo: dpa / Nikiforos Stamenis
Athens Currently, a violent storm is hitting western Greece: there are ferry cancellations, flight diversions and schools closed. According to the coast guard, a ship in distress was also discovered with around 100 migrants on board.
A Mediterranean hurricane, Medicane, hit the Ionian Sea on Friday with winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, according to the Greek civil protection authority. The islanders reported power outages, covered roofs and downed trees. According to the ANA news agency, a sailboat was washed away by the waves off the island of Ithaca, and the two occupants were able to save themselves on shore.
According to the forecast, the storm from the Ionian Sea and western Greece will move across the Peloponnese peninsula during the day. The civil protection authority warned against any unnecessary travel during the storm. The mayor of the island’s capital Argostoli in Kaphalonia, Dionysis Minetos, said on Greek television that residents should stay in their homes and not go outside.
As a precautionary measure, the civil defense provided rescue teams in particularly threatened areas, and three rescue helicopters are on alert.
According to initial information from the coast guard, the occupants of a ship off the island of Zakynthos in western Greece apparently sent a distress signal. Around 50 migrants are on board. State television (ERT) reported that the ship was caught in Hurricane “Ianos” (Medicane) on Friday and was heading there. Due to the strong winds, the rescue operation is hampered. The ship, before capsizing, is expected to head to the mainland of the Peloponnese peninsula, they said.
In the Ionian Sea, which lies between Italy and Greece, immigrants are seen on their way to Italy almost every day. However, there are no statistics on their number from official sources. With crossings from Greece or Turkey organized by smuggling gangs directly into Italy, migrants are trying to avoid the largely closed Balkan route and reach Western Europe in this way.
A medicane is a storm depression that can form in the Mediterranean region towards the end of summer when the water is still high. As soon as it reaches the mainland, it becomes less violent.
