A man has died near Athens as a storm hits parts of Greece with gale-force winds and flooding, while a Saharan dust storm enveloped the island of Crete. The man was found under a car in the Nea Makri rural area early on Thursday, according to the fire department.

Storm Erminio has flooded streets, closed some schools, and moored ferries. Meanwhile, some flights were disrupted on Crete on Wednesday after dust from an African storm filled the air, turning the sky red-orange. The weather is expected to be bad on Thursday in most areas of the country, with long-lasting and intense rains and storms and possibly local hail, according to the national meteorological service.

A red warning is in place in Crete, mainly in the west and south, from midday until late at night on Thursday. The fire department received 674 calls for assistance from Wednesday through early Thursday, with most calls related to fallen trees in the Attica region that encompasses Athens. High winds have kept ferries moored in ports, with some departures possibly resuming on Thursday, weather permitting.

Streets and the basement of the local police station in Nea Makri experienced flooding, and a bridge was knocked down on the island of Poros, with vehicles reportedly swept away. Some schools have also been closed.