In what is being described as a once-in-a-lifetime weather event, snow has covered several parts of Greece since Sunday, January 23.
With the storm Elpis hitting the country's mainland as well as the Cyclades islands — including Syros, Naxos, Tinos, Andros, Mykonos, Santorini and others — the entire region has been left covered in a white veil of snow.
On Monday, the snow also blanketed the Greek capital Athens. This led to travel woes, especially due to the absence of snow infrastructure to cope with such weather. Train and bus operations in the capital were also suspended.
According to reports, the rescue crews struggled to free hundreds of drivers whose cars got stuck in the storm for hours. As the temperatures fell overnight, soldiers handed out food, water and blankets to some of the drivers.
Heavy snowfall also coated the marble columns of the Acropolis, according to the Associated Press.
The snow was expected to continue falling for several hours, and officials warned residents to avoid any unnecessary movement. Government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou told AP conditions would continue to be "difficult" on Tuesday.
More than 46,000 schools were closed across the country.
While the snow falls frequently in the Greek mountains and the northern part of the country, it is less common in central Athens and on the Aegean islands. And despite being a rare phenomenon, the city of Athens has now been hit by snowstorms for a second consecutive year.
A newlywed couple from the United States twirls in the snow during a photo shooting near the Acropolis in Athens on Monday, January 24, 2022.
People walk in Cholargos suburb of Athens after a snowstorm, on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A fallen tree on a parked vehicle in Athens, after a snowstorm, on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
An abandoned vehicle, is seen in an motorway way after a snowstorm, in Athens, on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. Army and fire service teams were deployed late Monday to extract hundreds of motorists trapped for hours in snowed-in cars. (AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
A woman walks a dog past a fountain in front of the Greek Parliament building during snowfall Monday, January 24, 2022, in Athens. (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis/picture alliance via Getty Images)
The Parthenon is seen during a snowfall in Athens on Monday, January 24, 2022. Schools are closed in greatest Athens area, as Greece exepriences a cold weather front with heavy snowfalls and very low temperatures. (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
24 January 2022, Greece, Athen: People walk past a metro station during snowfall. Photo: Angelos Tzortzinis/dpa (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis/picture alliance via Getty Images)
A woman takes photos from the Areopagus hill during a snowfall over Athens on January 24, 2022. (Photo by Louisa GOULIAMAKI / AFP) (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
People walk past the Acropolis during a snowfall over Athens on Monday, January 24, 2022. (Photo by LOUISA GOULIAMAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
24 January 2022, Greece, Athen: Snow falls on the roofs of the Greek capital. Heavy snowfall caused problems on Monday, especially in central and southern Greece. In many regions, the Greek Civil Defense sent warning text messages to residents and called on them not to leave the house if possible. Photo: Angelos Tzortzinis/dpa (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis/picture alliance via Getty Images)
24 January 2022, Greece, Athen: A man buys bread at a small stall during snowfall. Photo: Angelos Tzortzinis/dpa (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis/picture alliance via Getty Images)
People walk in the middle of the street during snowfall in Agios Steganos, north of Athens, on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022.(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
A pedestrian walks during a snowfall, in Athens, on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. AP Photo/Michael Varaklas)
24 January 2022, Greece, Athen: A man stands with an umbrella in front of the Greek Parliament building during snowfall. Photo: Angelos Tzortzinis/dpa (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis/picture alliance via Getty Images)
