Chalkidiki power and water networks to be fully restored by nightfall

Life in storm-stricken Chalkidiki was returning to normal on Saturday, with only a few minor problems to the electricity and water supply in some areas that are expected to be resolved by nightfall, authorities said.

Nea Propontida Mayor Manolis Karras said the power was restored to 90 pct of the municipality, while sanitation crews and teams from the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) were working to fix the remaining problems. Both power and water had been restored to the main tourist resorts, as has public access to the beach, he said.

Sithonia Mayor Kyparissis Deblas reported that power was back for 80 pct of Sarti and 90 pct of Neos Marmaras but several tourism and restaurant businesses continued to face problems in areas where neither power nor water had returned, including tourist zones along the seafront.

"We have, however, received assurances from the new general secretary for civil protection, Nikos Hardalias ...that the damage will be restored by tonight", he said.

In the municipality of Kassandra, the power is largely back but some areas of Kallithea don't have water because of damage to one of three wells supplying the village, due to be fixed within the next few hours, and a small area outside Polychrono that is still without electricity.

"The problems are now minor, things are back to normal", the mayor Giorgos Kyritsis commented.