The Hellenic Police have announced that a nationwide test of the Civil Defense alarm sirens will take place on Wednesday, October 1, as part of the annual military exercise “PARMENION-25.”
The test will involve all Civil Defense sirens across the country, and it is purely procedural. Authorities emphasize that there is no cause for public concern or alarm, as the activation is strictly a test of the emergency warning system.
In parallel with the sirens, church bells across Greece will also sound in a specific rhythm—a series of short chimes lasting approximately three minutes, synchronized with the siren alerts.


Details of the Siren TestAccording to the official schedule released by the Hellenic Police (ELAS), the sirens will be activated in stages across different regions. The test will include variations in duration, tone, and intensity to simulate different types of alerts, including:

• Air raid warning signals
  
• End-of-alert tones
  
• CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) threat alerts
  

Indicative timing:

• At 11:00 a.m. local time, a nationwide air raid alert will sound.
  
• This will be followed by regional siren activations in sectors such as the Northeast, South, West, Central, and East.
  
• The testing program will conclude by 12:55 p.m. with the final warning and “end-of-alert” signals.
  

This simulation is designed to ensure the operational readiness and responsiveness of Greece’s Civil Defense system and to evaluate coordination between military and civilian authorities.
The “PARMENION” exercise is an annual large-scale national defense drill involving multiple branches of the armed forces and civil protection agencies.
source:- tanea.gr

Majority of Canceled Flights to Depart Today; No Serious Damage Reported on the Island
Zakynthos, Greece – Flights to and from Zakynthos that were canceled last night due to persistent low cloud cover are resuming operations from noon onwards today. Of the 27 flights affected, at least 24 are expected to proceed as planned. These flights include international routes to and from the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, France, as well as one domestic flight to Athens International Airport (El. Venizelos).
More than 90% of affected passengers spent the night in local hotels at no personal cost, thanks to coordination between local authorities and tourism services on the island.
Despite the two-day spell of bad weather, Zakynthos largely avoided serious incidents. This was credited to proactive measures taken by the Municipality, the Sub-Region, and the Civil Protection Agency. Key flood-prone areas—such as Lithakia, Agalas, and other vulnerable zones—were preemptively cleared and secured.
The only notable disruption occurred last night in Alykanas, where a road was flooded for over three hours. Twelve tourists staying at a nearby hotel requested relocation after water began entering the property’s courtyard. Authorities quickly responded, and the guests were safely transferred.

Additionally, on the Agalas–Lithakia road, where concerns had been highest, a minor landslide involving gravel and soil was reported. The incident was swiftly managed by Civil Protection crews already stationed in the area with heavy machinery on standby.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions closely, but normalcy has largely returned to the island.
source:- Hmera Zakynthos. 

A notable change in weather is on the horizon, with widespread unsettled conditions expected to set in from next Thursday onward. According to the latest run of the GFS forecast model, a general deterioration in weather is anticipated across the region.
Other major forecasting models are also aligning with this trend, though there are natural variations in the projected path and intensity of the approaching system.
The key takeaways remain consistent: a high probability of widespread rainfall, a sharp drop in temperatures, and overall unstable conditions. As the forecast continues to evolve and newer data becomes available, we will provide timely updates with more specific details here in the group. Stay tuned and stay prepared.
​source:- Meteo

Heavy rainfall that began early this morning has brought significant disruptions to traffic and daily life across Zakynthos, creating hazardous conditions and prompting a strong response from local authorities.
One of the hardest-hit areas is the road to Agalas in Lithakia, where debris—including gravel, stones, and large volumes of water—has completely covered the roadway, posing serious risks to drivers. Civil Protection teams from the Municipality of Zakynthos are actively working at the scene to manage the situation, while Zakynthos Traffic Police are also present due to a high volume of vehicles. Authorities are urging all drivers to exercise extreme caution and reduce their speed.

Elsewhere, the Zakynthos–Alykon provincial road, from the Mandolatos factory to Alykanas, has been closed entirely due to severe flooding. According to local reports, water levels have risen quickly, making the area impassable.
Municipal services remain on high alert as new problems continue to emerge. Residents are strongly advised to avoid unnecessary travel until the extreme weather conditions subside.

The impact of the storm has also extended to Zakynthos Airport, where nearly all scheduled flights have been canceled or delayed. Since 12:00 p.m., no departures have taken place, largely due to poor visibility. Several flights that had been rescheduled earlier in the day were ultimately canceled, leaving many travelers stranded. Arriving flights have faced similar disruptions.
As the adverse weather continues, both residents and visitors are being asked to remain patient and prioritize safety.
Zakynthos Informer has more on the blog below:- 

It’s been confirmed, that industrial action by the Greek Air Traffic Controllers' Association will happen on October 1st, 2025.
 
The timing will be from 00:01 (one minute past midnight) to 24:00 (midnight) local time.
 
Flight schedules will be affected, so the advice is to keep an eye out for further updates and speak to your airline and travel companies for any disruption to your scheduled flight.
 
 
The official announcement says:
The Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers Association informs the public that the Board of Directors calls on its members to participate in the 24-hour strike of the A.D.E.D.Y. on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, from 00:01 to 24:00.
 
During the strike, only the following categories of flights will be served, in order to ensure the basic needs of society as a whole:

• Flights that cross the Athens FIR

 

• Flights that transport Heads of State and Prime Ministers

 

• Air Force flights in the context of operational missions or scheduled exercises

 

• Flights of aircraft in a state of emergency or facing unusual situations

 

• Hospital flights

 

• Humanitarian aid flights

 

• Search and rescue flights

 

Other potential flight disruptions
Fraport Greece has also announced that, as of 25 September 2025, the number of planes allowed to enter Athens airspace have been reduced. This has been implemented by Air Traffic Control of the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority.
 
These airspace restrictions might lead to delays in the current flight schedules. So once again the advice is to keep an eye out for further updates and all travellers speak to their airline and travel companies for any potential changes in scheduled flights.
 
As always keep an eye on our socials for updates.
 
​Source: Fraport and local news

​An atmospheric disturbance will manifest itself in our country from Italy, due to the high pressure over Northern Europe, significantly affecting the Mediterranean. Based on the latest data, a drop in temperature of up to 8 degrees below is expected from today, keeping the temperature up to a little below the normal data for the season.

Starting tomorrow, Saturday (27.09.25) in the afternoon, a storm system will commence in our country, with the main characteristics being heavy rains, intense storms and gale force winds that will reach up to 8 Beaufort, according to meteorologists' forecasts for the last 24 hours.

Today at noon, according to meteorologist Theodoros Kolidas, an emergency bulletin will be issued by the Hellenic Meteorological Service, which will provide more details on where the bad weather will "hit" most intensely.
At the moment forecasts suggest that Zakynthos Ilia, Achaia and Messinia will be in the crossline. Thus causing heavy downpours from Saturday night onwards. Other forecasts suggest that the brunt of the storm will take place at sea, further south. Nevertheless, a warning for Zakynthos and western - northwestern Peloponnese is worth more than enough, primarily for flooding phenomena.
Below we can see the forecasts from this evening with a height being on Sunday just after midnight then again intensifying around six o'clock in the evening. 

Zakynthos Informer will update as news bulletins come through. 
​source:-  CNN.gr

The sixth round of the Panhellenic Drift Championship will be held in Zakynthos at the Lithakia Circuit, this weekend.
The National Drift Championship will host the 6th round of the national events in Zakynthos, on September 20th and the 21st, 2025. This event forms part of the Hellenic Drift Championship, which is organized by the Hellenic Motor Sport Federation (OMAE). Further details are available on their official website and social media channels.

​Many residents of and visitors to Zakynthos are familiar with Sue Deeth and the remarkable work carried out by her registered UK charity, Healing Paws Animal Rescue, as well as its status as a registered non-profit organisation in Greece. Through her unwavering dedication, alongside her family and a committed team of trustees and volunteers, over 2,060 dogs have been rescued and found forever homes across the UK and Europe.

Progress and Ongoing Needs
​A few years ago, the charity was able to purchase land with the vision of building a purpose-designed shelter to provide refuge for even more animals in need. Unfortunately, the number of unwanted and abandoned dogs continues to grow, which means the demand for fundraising and donations remains relentless. These regular contributions and offers of support are vital, supplying food, medicine, and veterinary care for the animals at HPAR.

A Promising Partnership
Sue is thrilled to announce a new partnership with Alan Graves, a passionate supporter who runs his own foundation, the Alan Graves Foundation (AGF). This non-profit organisation assists children and animal charities worldwide. The foundation has pledged a generous donation towards the shelter’s construction. Pending final building permissions, it is hoped that work on the shelter can commence soon. While this donation provides an excellent start, ongoing fundraising will be critical both to complete the building and to continue caring for the animals until they find new homes.

Rebranding and Continuity
To mark this new partnership, the charity will undergo a slight rebranding: Healing Paws Animal Rescue will now be known as Alan Graves Foundation Animal Rescue (Greece). Despite the change in name, the charity’s rescue work in Zakynthos continues as usual. The Healing Paws team remains active and united, looking forward to this exciting new chapter.

Gratitude and Future Aspirations
The entire team extends heartfelt thanks to Alan Graves and to all the adopters, fosterers, friends, and supporters who have enabled HPAR’s work thus far. The charity is closer than ever to achieving its long-held dream of a purpose-built shelter—a facility that will greatly enhance its ability to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome even more unwanted and abandoned animals in Zakynthos.

Stay Connected
Regular updates on the charity’s progress can be found on HPAR’s social media channels and website which we have included below.
Website: healingpawsanimalrescue.com/
​Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/2952932278282275

From 23 to 26 August 2025, Zakynthos commemorates the Transfer of Saint Dionysios’ sacred Relic from the islands of Strofades.

• On Saturday, 23 August at exactly 11.00a.m the second senio (announcement) will begin with 12 cannon shots, church bells ringing across the Island. Residents will also join in by sounding off their guns and ferry boats their horns.  
  
• at 7 pm, The Metropolitan Archbishop Dionysios descends from the Monastery to the Church, followed by a Doxology, procession of the relic, and Resurrection Vespers.

​

On Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 8:30 in the morning, an Episcopal Liturgy will be held. 
At 11:00 a.m the third senio, will also commence across Zakynthos whilst the procession of the sacred Relic of Saint Dionysios takes place inside the Holy Church and is returned to the Holy Reliquary .

Zakynthos Informer would like to remind you that during the senio, the tradition of celebrating the announcement will include cannon shots from Zakynthos Town, church bells will chime across the island, ferry boats will sound their horns whilst across the island residents will join in with the sounding of their shot guns. We would also like to remind you that if you have anyone or animal that is noise sensitive to take necessary precautions.

​Visit the Agios Dionysios trade fair next to Zakynthos port, open daily for shopping and entertainment. The annual market runs 24 hours a day from Friday, August 22 to Tuesday, August 26. Enjoy entertainment at Luna Park and sample local and Greek delicacies. 

A member of Zakynthos Informer has already raised over £3500, for immediate distribution to the residents of Agalas, who desperately need financial help, after losing their property and belongings, during the horrendous Zakynthos wildfires that affected the island on the 12th to 15th August 2025.

It’s going to be a long road to getting help for people, and help will not be immediate for everyone. So, in conjunction with the Volunteer Group of Zakynthos, we’ve created an ongoing GoFund me account, to continue to raise funds for anyone else who might need financial assistance in the coming months.

This list is just an example and not extensive and any further monies raised will be handed directly to local residents, to cover things like:

• Rebuilding of property
• Building Materials
• Home Furnishings

• White Goods

Thank you for donating whatever you can, large or small, as this will go a long way to help.

Please do also share the link with family, friends and on social media