Strong winds disrupt ferry services as Greek holiday exodus begins
Piraeus services operate normally as thousands of passengers head to Aegean and Saronic Gulf islands.
The major holiday exodus ahead of the three-day Dormition of the Virgin Mary holiday on Aug. 15 got underway Friday amid disruptions to ferry services caused by strong winds in several sea areas.
Services from the ports of Rafina and Lavrio have been particularly affected by the adverse weather conditions, with authorities expected to reassess the situation after 11 a.m.
An updated briefing is expected to provide information on weather conditions and whether scheduled ferry services can operate.
Heavy traffic from Piraeus
Ferry services from the port of Piraeus are operating normally, although passenger traffic remains particularly heavy ahead of the peak of the holiday exodus.
According to advance bookings provided by ferry companies, 21 vessel departures are scheduled from Piraeus on Friday, with 22,894 passengers expected to travel to the Aegean islands.
Heavy traffic to Saronic Gulf
Passenger traffic is also particularly heavy on routes to the Saronic Gulf islands.
A total of 35 passenger hydrofoil services and 25 passenger-car ferry services have been scheduled, with advance bookings reaching 7,632 passengers.
Of those passengers, 3,208 are expected to travel by high-speed vessels, while 4,424 are booked on passenger-car ferries.
Authorities and ferry operators are monitoring weather conditions as holiday travel intensifies ahead of the Aug. 15 celebrations.
