Greece announces public holiday amid heavy snowfall

Authorities in Greece have announced a public holiday on January 25 due to heavy snowfall that paralyzed the country, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Christos Stylianidis said during a briefing on bad weather.

Report informs, citing TASS, that the minister said employees of all state institutions will not work, except for local government, security services, armed forces, healthcare institutions, and public transport. Educational institutions of all levels, kindergartens, children's centers will also be closed, without shifting to remote learning.

The minister said the work of private enterprises is suspended with the exception of grocery stores, pharmacies and other healthcare facilities, gas stations, and organizations that help overcome the consequences of bad weather.

Greece was hit by an intense cyclone, "Elpis" ("Hope") on Monday, which brought heavy snowfalls and a remarkable drop in temperature. Nearly a dozen districts of Athens and suburbs experienced power and Internet cuts as trees fell onto wires.

Hundreds of cars got stuck in the snow on the high-speed toll highway "Attiki odos" that passes through the north of the capital and extends to the Athens International Airport.

Meteorologists expect adverse weather conditions to last until Wednesday.