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Chaotic holiday season marked by stranded thousands and two fatalities following severe windstorms ravaging Greece, causing ferry service suspensions

Multitudes of individuals find themselves abandoned and sadly, two lives are lost, as Greece is battered by high-speed winds. Travel arrangements for numerous vacationers have been disrupted due to these travel disruptions.

Catastrophic holiday chaos results in thousands being left abandoned, joined by two fatalities,...
Catastrophic holiday chaos results in thousands being left abandoned, joined by two fatalities, following relentless storm winds which wreak havoc in Greece, causing ferry shutdowns

Chaotic holiday season marked by stranded thousands and two fatalities following severe windstorms ravaging Greece, causing ferry service suspensions

Strong winds have caused significant travel disruptions and exacerbated wildfires across Greece, particularly in the south and east of the country.

Ferry services between Athens and popular Cyclades islands such as Paros, Naxos, and Milos have been heavily disrupted, with cancellations and delays leaving thousands of tourists stranded at ports [1]. Winds reached speeds up to 88 km/h in parts of the Aegean Sea and Crete [1][4].

A sailing ban was effectively imposed by the cancellation of ferry services due to safety concerns amid these strong winds. The coastguard reported fatalities at sea near Milos in the Cyclades, where two tourists drowned while on a cruise ship excursion [4].

The dangerous conditions for sea travel during these gale-force winds were also highlighted by the incident at Milos.

In addition to travel impacts, the strong winds have exacerbated wildfires across southern Greece. Fires have been reported near Athens in Keratea, on the Ionian island of Kefalonia, and near Ancient Olympia, causing evacuations and significant damage to homes and farmland [1][3][4].

Authorities have issued warnings for very high fire risk driven by these northerly gale-force winds reaching up to 9 Beaufort (approximately 74-88 km/h) [2][5].

The Athens National Observatory has warned of a "very high potential for wind-driven forest fires" in these regions [2]. Costas Tsigkas, head of the association of Greek firefighter officers, stated that the fire in Keratea is particularly difficult due to wind gusts [6].

The mayor of Athens has also shut down the National Garden after a tree fell in one of the capital's busiest high streets, narrowly missing shoppers [7].

Despite these challenges, maritime connections with the Saronic islands near Athens and the Ionian Sea remain unaffected [1].

Authorities continue to warn residents and travelers to avoid sailing and remain cautious due to expected continued high winds and fire danger in the region [1][2][5].

References

  1. Gale-force winds disrupt ferry services in Greece
  2. Athens National Observatory warns of high fire risk
  3. Wildfires break out in Kefalonia
  4. Two Vietnamese tourists die at sea in Greece
  5. Greek firefighters battle strong winds in Keratea
  6. Greek firefighters battle strong winds in Keratea
  7. Athens mayor shuts down National Garden after tree falls

The cautionary advisory for mariners extends beyond sailing in the Aegean Sea and Crete, as strong winds have also led to accidents at sea near Milos in the Cyclades.

These gale-force winds are not only disrupting travel but also contributing to the spread of wildfires across Greece, particularly in the south and east regions, as reported near Athens, Kefalonia, and Ancient Olympia.

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