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Hurricane-like storm hits eastern Med

A hurricane-like storm swept across the eastern Mediterranean over the weekend, bringing gale-force winds and heavy rainfall to the Greek Islands and Turkey’s Aegean coast.

The so-called Medicane forced ferries to remain in port with many islands cut off from the mainland.

Strong winds toppled trees onto power lines in parts of Athens.

Authorities on the Ionian island of Zakynthos and the Aegean islands of Tinos, Andros and Mykonos ordered schools to remain shut.

Several villages on the island of Kefalonia were evacuated as a wildfire was fanned by the strong winds.

The cyclone was caused by an area of low pressure off the northern coast of Africa, which has already brought torrential rain to northern Libya and Tunisia.

The Medicane strengthened over the Ionian Sea, before heading for southern Greece on Saturday and the Aegean and western Turkey on Sunday.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned on Friday of localised or severe weather extremes affecting areas of Greece over the extended summer.

“This can at times cause travel disruption,” the FCO said. “You should monitor local and international weather updates and follow advice of local authorities.”

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