Dozens of schools closed on first day back due to cold

Dozens of schools around the Greek capital did not open for the first day back after the Christmas break on Thursday due to the cold weather than has lashed the country for the past two weeks.

Schools north of Athens, in areas such as Thrakomakedones, Varibombi, Markopoulo, Oropos, Kapandriti and Kalamos, among others, were ordered closed by the Attica Regional Authority, while principals in other parts of the region were allowed to decide whether or not to open depending on the conditions at their school.

The first day back at school also met with problems on the island of Crete, where schools were closed due to snow in mostly mountainous areas of Iraklio such as Dafnes, Profitis Ilias and Aghioa Myronas, as well as in northern Greece and particularly in the regions of Kastoria and Florina.