Vrilissia

The state is set to become the legal owner of properties in 111 areas around the country (including 20 in Athens and Thessaloniki) whose real owners have not declared their assets to the land registry offices (Ktimatologio) that are about to complete 14 years of operation, according to the head of the property owners federation (POMIDA).

It was late August 2005 when a group of mountaineers based in Vrilissia, northern Athens, arrived on Icaria with the aim of mapping the Aegean island's network of mountain paths, which up until then were mostly uncharted and had in many cases become impassable.

A fire has broken out at a shopping centre in the northern suburb of Athens in Chalandri. Seven fire engines and 20 firefighters are on the scene.

Heavy rainfall led to traffic being interrupted on Pireos Street between Petrou Ralli and Chamosternas Streets in central Athens on Thursday.

Stormy conditions also resulted in delays to the capital's scheduled metro services.

The weather also led to power cuts in the areas of Melissia, Vrilissia, Penteli and Aghia Paraskevi in the northern suburbs.

Following heavy snowfall and icy conditions across the region of Attica, several municipalities announced that schools in their areas would remain closed on Thursday.

Schools in the areas of Thrakomakedones, Varibobi, Kifissia, Vrilissia and Penteli, northern Attica, were closed on Thursday.

Giorgos Kaminis and Yiannis Boutaris retained the mayorships of Athens and Thessaloniki in the second round of local elections on Sunday but there were changes in key Greek cities.

Patra, Greece’s third largest city, was won by Communist Party candidate Costas Peletidis. In Iraklio, Crete, independent hopeful Vassilis Lambrinos beat PASOK-backed incumbent Yiannis Kourakis.

By Lina Giannarou

A 57-year-old man committed suicide early on Sunday by jumping off a flyover in Vrilissia, northeastern Athens.

Authorities were called after a car caught fire in a nearby tunnel on the Attiki Odos. The vehicle belonged to the 57-year-old.