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Friday 18 September 2020
The Mediterranean hurricane “Ianos” wreaks havoc in places where there are usually tourists. The islands of the Ionian Sea are the most affected. Residents there have to deal with early damage, but the storm could continue to accelerate.
The severe autumnal storm “Ianos” with characteristics of a hurricane crept slowly along the coast of the Greek peninsula of the Peloponnese on Friday night. The first flights had to be diverted. Two Ryanair planes were unable to land as planned on the island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea in the morning and were diverted to Athens.
The Mediterranean hurricane, also known as Medicane, hit the Ionian Sea with winds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, according to Greek civil protection authorities. 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.
Residents must stay home
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 at home and not go outside. For security reasons, schools in many regions of western Greece should be closed on Friday. Ferry connections to the islands of Kefalonia, Zakynthos and Ithaca were also disrupted.
As a precautionary measure, the civil defense provided rescue teams in particularly threatened areas, and three rescue helicopters are also on alert. The meteorological office warns: In the next few hours the “Medicane Ianos” could change course and cause serious damage to the continent. Forecasters expect the weather to improve on Sunday night. 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.
