Newsroom
A ban on ships leaving the ports of Piraeus, Lavrio, and Rafina remains in effect due to strong, stormy winds disrupting ferry schedules. Travelers with planned trips are urged to contact their shipping companies directly, as some operators are choosing to run routes despite the official ban, doing so at their own risk.
The Coast Guard warns passengers to check for updated departure times before heading to the ports, which are currently overwhelmed with hundreds of vehicles stranded by canceled sailings. The only ferry routes still running are those within the Saronic Gulf from Piraeus and from Marmari in Euboea.
The disruption has caused major inconvenience, with some travelers stuck at ports since early morning and others forced to travel by road from distant towns. According to the National Meteorological Service, the strong winds are expected to ease after midnight, lasting until about 1 a.m. Friday, but northerly winds will remain strong across the Aegean and eastern mainland until at least Sunday.
Wind gusts are forecast to reach up to 100 km/h on Friday afternoon in eastern Sterea, southern Euboea, the Cyclades, and parts of Crete.
Meanwhile, the high winds combined with soaring temperatures have triggered extreme fire risk warnings across much of the country. The General Secretariat for Civil Protection has issued a “red alert” for Attica (including Kythira), Central Greece (Boeotia, Euboea), and parts of the Peloponnese (Argolis, Corinthia, Laconia), signaling the highest category of wildfire danger. Authorities urge the public to exercise extreme caution, as the weather conditions create a dangerous mix for fires to ignite and spread quickly.
