Summary A major thunderstorm on Friday flooded roads and homes in Athens, causing massive gridlock.
ATHENS (AFP) - A major thunderstorm on Friday flooded roads and homes in Athens, causing massive gridlock across the capital and knocking out parts of its metro network, authorities said.
"It was one of the worst thunderstorms we have ever had in the greater Athens area," fire department chief Sotiris Georgakopoulos told state television NET.
NET said it was the worst thunderstorm since 1961.
The fire department said it had received some 900 calls to drain water from houses, businesses and at least three hospitals as ankle-high water filled the city s streets.
Power outages were also caused in several districts.
A parliament employee narrowly avoided injury when two panels on a glass roof on the building s ceiling gave way as she tried to clear away rainwater from it.
Shards of broken glass fell on the main parliament hall as session was about to begin.
"(She) was going to fall on our heads," sports general secretary Yiannis Ioannidis told the chamber.
The worker was pulled to safety and the damage was quickly repaired, a parliament press officer said.
She was treated for glass cuts, and parliament later insisted that protective netting had been in place all along.
Officials said the weather was expected to improve in the afternoon.
