Snowfall disrupts travel in Athens

Heavy snow left 200 villages cut off across Greece today and forced airports to cancel dozens of flights.

Problems with power and water supplies were reported across the country as it was gripped by the second day of a winter storm.

Schools and universities were shut throughout the greater Athens area and in many other parts of Greece. About 200 villages, most on the southern island of Crete, were cut off.

Between four to six inches of snow blanketed the centre of Athens and near the snow-covered Acropolis only cars fitted with snow chains could navigate the roads.

Dozens of international and domestic flights to and from Athens’ airport were cancelled. Temperatures had been forecast to plunge to minus 15C in parts of northern Greece overnight.

Heavy snow fell also fell over much of Turkey on Monday, causing accidents, disrupting air transport and closing schools.

In Istanbul, where the snow was nine inches deep, city workers moved homeless people into cheap hotels or shelters.

The Mediterranean resort of Antalya had its first snow in 15 years.