Spooked by rumors concerning impending fuel shortages, drivers are flooding gas stations across Greece, leading the country's largest refiner to issue a statement reassuring there are enough reserves.
Refiner Hellenic Petroleum says that "we maintain fuel reserves for several months. The supply of our refineries with crude oil is also assured."
In fact, the rush to the gas stations has been prompted less by worries about shortages than rumors that only withdrawals of up to 60 euros ($66) per day from ATMs will be allowed and that use of credit or debit cards will not be permitted.
We already know that banks will be shut down and capital controls imposed. The specific measures will be announced at the end of the cabinet meeting, which has gone on for over four hours now.
Greece Will Close Banks Amid Fear Of Financial Collapse
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced on Sunday that the nation's banks and stock market would be closed on Monday amid fears of financial collapse. Greece is also set to impose capital controls that will limit the amount of funds that citizens can transfer or withdraw from its financial institutions.
No information was given as to the specifics of the controls or the limits that may be placed on ATMs, which have already seen long lines of people seeking to take out their cash. Over 1 billion euros have been withdrawn from the Greek banking system since Friday night, Agence France-Presse reported.
"I would withdraw money today, anyway. Now I will withdraw more to be safe for the next few days. I am certain that ATMs will run out of money, it has already happened at some places," one man in line at an Athens ATM told HuffPost Greece.
"Yes. I am scared of bankruptcy, of the ruthless devaluation of currency and the general isolation of the country once it exits the EU," another woman said.