Floods and closed roads after heavy rain

TORRENTIAL RAIN fell across the island yesterday, causing flooding in urban areas and closing some roads to traffic. 
Fire Service spokesman Marios Kyprianou said that more than 35 emergency calls had been responded to up to early evening, mainly in Nicosia and Limassol districts. Fire units were mostly called upon to pump water from flooded shop basements and roads, especially in Limassol and Nicosia districts. Kyprianou said that given the forecast for continuing heavy rain over the next two or three days, fire service personnel will remain on standby.
A few slight traffic accidents occurred during the day due to wet roads and reduced visibility, and police issued warnings that the road network island-wide – and the highways in particular – had become slippery and dangerous due to the heavy rain.
Police advised drivers to respect traffic signs, maintain low speed, keep their distance from cars in front and drive with their headlights on. By last night, some streets in Nicosia and Larnaca and connecting roads across the island were closed due to standing water.
Police traffic warnings were also issued for the areas around Troodos and the Paphos villages of Inia, Dhroushia and Kathikas, which were covered in thick fog for much of the day, as well as receiving heavy rainfall.
Another victim of the bad weather was the scheduled Marfin Laiki League football match between Ermis Aradippou and Enosis Neon Paralimni, which was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
Meteorological Office representative Cleanthis Nicolaides said that the torrential rainfall was due to a large low-pressure front dominating the eastern Mediterranean.
Nicolaides said that more heavy rain and local storms are expected today around noon. The rain is expected to ease off somewhat from tonight, but will continue into Wednesday and Thursday, with occasional heavy rainfall in some areas. Temperatures are also expected to drop further from tonight.

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