Gale force winds in the Aegean, reaching speeds of up to 9 Beaufort, tied up ferries at the ports of Lavrio and Rafina, but also prevented all sailings from Piraeus to the islands of the Cyclades.
The winds blowing from a southerly direction brought a dense cloud of dust over the whole of Crete.
The cloud of dust according to the meteorological office will start lifting the early hours of Saturday morning.
As the particulates carried in the dust cloud are exceeding acceptable concentration levels, health authorities issued a warning for vulnerable groups of people – individuals suffering from heart and respiratory conditions and the over 65s – asking them to limit their outdoor activities while these conditions prevail.
