Greece is marking its October 28 national anniversary on Wednesday with extensive traffic restrictions, public transport changes and school parade cancellations, as severe weather threatens several regions with heavy rain, thunderstorms and possible hail.
In Athens, authorities have introduced traffic measures around Syntagma Square, where the annual student parade is scheduled for 11:00. The Syntagma Metro station has closed from 08:00, while tram services are operating on shortened routes.
In Thessaloniki, where the military parade is scheduled for 11:00 along Megalou Alexandrou Avenue, police have imposed extensive traffic and parking restrictions. Six Metro stations will close temporarily from 11:00. Meanwhile, authorities have cancelled student parades in Magnesia, the Northern Sporades, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, parts of Evia and the Athens suburb of Agios Dimitrios, citing severe weather forecasts.
Athens introduces traffic restrictions and transport changes
Athens Traffic Police began implementing restrictions early on Wednesday because of the official religious service at the Metropolitan Cathedral and the student parade at Syntagma Square.
Read more: Greece Cancels 28 October Parades in Magnesia, Sporades and Lamia
From 06:00 until the completion of the service, authorities have suspended traffic along the entire length of Mitropoleos Street and on connecting streets up to the first parallel road.
From 09:00 until the student parade ends, traffic restrictions cover Vasilissis Amalias Avenue, Panepistimiou Street, sections of Vasilissis Sofias Avenue, Syngrou Avenue between Athanasiou Diakou Street and Dionysiou Areopagitou Street, and Athanasiou Diakou Street. Restrictions also extend to connecting streets in the affected areas.
Police have urged drivers to avoid Syntagma Square, Panepistimiou Street and surrounding central roads during the events. Authorities will restore traffic gradually after the parade.
The Syntagma Metro station has closed from 08:00 following instructions from the Hellenic Police, according to the Athens Transport Company STASY. Trains will pass through the station without stopping for passengers. The station will reopen after the events end and police lift the restrictions.
Tram services have also changed temporarily. Line 6, which normally runs between Pikrodafni and Syntagma, will terminate at Fix station from 08:00, operating between Pikrodafni and Fix in both directions.
Line 7, which connects the Asklipieio Voula area with Akti Poseidonos, will terminate at SEF station from 09:00. Both changes will remain in place until the events finish and traffic conditions return to normal.
All Athens public bus and trolleybus routes are operating on Sunday schedules because of the national public holiday. During local parades across Attica, some services may follow altered routes or use temporary stops. Passengers can call the Athens Urban Transport Organisation (OASA) information line on 11185 for travel updates.
Athens anniversary programme
The official programme includes the following events:
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06:47: Ceremonial gun salutes from Lycabettus Hill and reveille performances by the Armed Forces and security services bands.
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08:00: Official raising of the Greek flag on the Acropolis.
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10:00: Official service at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, led by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece.
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10:40: Wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by representatives of the authorities.
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11:00: Student parade in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, featuring school groups, Scouts, Guides and people with disabilities.
The Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports is scheduled to attend the student parade.
Thessaloniki imposes extensive traffic restrictions
Thessaloniki has introduced extensive traffic and parking restrictions ahead of the military parade scheduled for 11:00 along Megalou Alexandrou Avenue.
From 03:00 until the parade ends, parking and stopping are prohibited along Megalou Alexandrou Avenue, Grigoriou Papandreou Street between Megalou Alexandrou and Mitropolitou Kydonion, 30is Oktovriou Street, Pavlou Mela Street between White Tower Square and Tsimiski Street, G’ Septemvriou Street between Megalou Alexandrou and Stratou Avenue, Stratigou Napoleon Zerva Street, Ethnikis Amynis Street between Tsimiski Street and Nikis Avenue, and Gkyzi Street.
The restriction on Agias Triados Street, between Megalou Alexandrou Avenue and Vasileos Georgiou Street, will remain in place until 15:00.
Authorities will suspend all vehicle traffic on Megalou Alexandrou Avenue, Grigoriou Papandreou Street and 30is Oktovriou Street from 05:00 until the parade ends.
Additional closures will begin at 07:00 on Markou Botsari, Karaiskaki, Kallidopoulou, 25is Martiou, Petrou Syndika, Paraskevopoulou, Chatzi, 28is Oktovriou between Vasilissis Olgas and Megalou Alexandrou avenues, Stratigou Kakavou, Pavlou Mela, Soulioti and Ethnikis Amynis streets.
Police have also planned additional restrictions on sections of Kallidopoulou, Karaiskaki, Michail Psellou and Ifigeneias streets. They may introduce further closures on neighbouring roads depending on traffic conditions.
Authorities have urged drivers to remove parked vehicles in advance and follow traffic officers’ instructions.
Six Thessaloniki Metro stations to close
The Thessaloniki Metro will temporarily close six stations from 11:00 following an order from the Hellenic Police.
The affected stations are:
Metro operator THEMA has said the network will return to full operation once police lift the restrictions.
Traffic restrictions along the city’s waterfront and surrounding roads are also expected to affect bus routes serving the area.
The Hellenic Police has additionally prohibited all outdoor public gatherings in central Thessaloniki from 09:00 to 21:00. The measure covers an area bounded by Nikis Avenue, Ethnikis Amynis, Agiou Dimitriou, Stelios Dragoumanos, Grigoriou Koloniasri, Agion Panton, Giannitson, Ioanni Kolletti, 26is Oktovriou, Karatasou and Navarchou Kountouriotou streets, as well as Nikis Avenue.
Police cited public safety concerns and the need to prevent serious disruption to the city’s social and economic life, traffic and infrastructure.
Severe weather forces school parade cancellations
Regional and municipal authorities have cancelled student parades in several parts of Greece because forecasts warn of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and possible hail.
The cancellations include:
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Magnesia and the Northern Sporades: Thessaly Regional Governor Dimitris Kouretas has cancelled all student parades.
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Cyclades: Student parades have been cancelled across all regional units, including the participation of associations, organisations and clubs.
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Dodecanese: Authorities have cancelled student parades because of the increased risk of flooding.
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Evia: Cancellations cover Chalkida and the municipalities of Kymi-Aliveri, Mantoudi-Limni-Agia Anna, Dirfys-Messapia, Eretria and Skyros.
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Agios Dimitrios, Attica: Authorities have cancelled the scheduled anniversary parade.
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Zagora-Mouresi: Authorities have also cancelled the student parade because of forecasts of dangerous weather.
In Chalkida, only the parade company of the Infantry School will march.
Authorities had not finalised a decision on the military parade in Volos in the latest available announcements. They will decide according to how the weather develops.
In Magnesia, the regional decision applies only to student parades. The relevant authorities will decide separately on other anniversary events.
Red Code alert as storms threaten several regions
The cancellations follow an emergency severe weather bulletin from the Hellenic National Meteorological Service, which forecasts locally heavy rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday.
The most severe conditions, under a red warning, are expected in Thessaly, including Magnesia and Larissa, the Northern Sporades, Evia and the Dodecanese. Authorities also expect heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in the eastern Aegean islands, eastern Central Greece, Attica and the western and northern Cyclades, with orange warnings covering several of these areas.
The forecast calls for severe conditions in Thessaly, the Sporades and Evia until late at night. The eastern Aegean islands and parts of eastern Central Greece may also experience storms into the evening, while the warnings for Attica and the western and northern Cyclades cover the morning hours. Localised hailstorms remain possible.
Civil Protection has placed state services on heightened alert. Authorities have also activated the Red Code mobilisation status in Attica and parts of the Aegean because of the risk of dangerous weather and flooding.
Authorities continue to monitor conditions and may announce further changes to anniversary events. People planning to attend or participate in parades should check announcements from their local municipalities, regional authorities and police, as arrangements may change depending on the severity of the weather.
(Source: AMNA)
