Port authorities closed Rafina and Lavrio on August 14. A sailing ban went up at midday, with meltemi winds running at nine Beaufort and gusts recorded above 110 km/h across the Aegean. Ferry departures from Piraeus were cancelled too.
August 15 is Greece's Dormition Day, a major pilgrimage holiday when large numbers travel by sea to Tinos. By the morning of August 15, thousands of pilgrims were waiting at Tinos for the first ferries after the ban.
Authorities lifted the restriction at Rafina and Lavrio shortly after 4 PM on August 14. Extra sailings were added to clear the backlog.
Meltemi Storm Shuts Aegean Ports Ahead of Greece’s Biggest Pilgrimage Day
Interest over time · Aegean Sea, GreeceWho's watching
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