Agency Report

The government of Greece has effectively on Monday shut down civil services as a severe snowstorm swept the country overnight, the digital version of Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported.

The measure concerns every civil services employee except those engaged in emergency tasks dealing with the snowstorm.

Snowfalls have been forecast to continue on Tuesday.

The snowstorm hit Greece early on Monday with below-freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls across the Mediterranean country.

Citizens were urged to remain indoors from Monday and Tuesday, schools were shut down with over 46,000 classes held online.

The movement of trucks was banned and drivers were obliged to use tire chains for cars.

COVID-19 vaccination centres in the Athens region and on the island of Evia were also shut down until Wednesday.

Sputnik/NAN