More than 800 homes called the fire department for help in the Greek capital on Friday after heavy rains caused flooding throughout the greater Athens region.

Residents helped a woman escape from her car in a dramatic rescue as floodwaters lashed the vehicle.

In a separate incident Athens police said another woman trapped in her car managed to escape but died shortly afterwards. Police said she did not drown, but it is believed she suffered a heart attack.

Sudden, incessant rainstorms that began early on Friday and lasted for several hours caused riverbeds to overflow, taking parked cars with them, and flooded several neighbourhoods.

In east Athens a bridge was immersed in water from an overflowed river which also dragged a car away, while highways circling the capital were also immersed. The floodwaters reached the coastal beaches, flowing into the sea and tossing over sand and beach umbrellas.