Greece: violent winds disrupt maritime traffic, 2 tourists lose their lives

Two Vietnamese tourists died on the island of Milos at the Aegean Sea, in Greecewhere strong winds on Friday disrupted the maritime links with the islands in the midst of a tourist season, we learned from the port police.

“A man and a woman were found unconscious in the sea” near Sarakininiko beach in Milos, Cyclades Island, and “were transported to the local health center,” a official of the Greek port police told AFP.

“They were Vietnamese tourists part of a cruise group. The woman fell into the water and the man apparently tried to save her, both died, “she added without giving more details on the cause of this accident. Local media reported that the victims had drowned.

Many blocked tourists

Maritime accidents and drownings are frequent during the summer in Greece where many tourists visit the islands and the beaches of Continental Greece.

The violent winds that have been blowing since Friday morning, especially in the Aegean Sea (East) forced some ferries to stay at Quai in Piraeus, a large port near Athens, according to port police.

“Ferries were unable to leave this morning due to strong winds, especially those serving the Cyclades or Dodecannesis islands,” according to the same source.

Thus, certain links with the cyclades, including the very touristy islands of Mykonos and Paros, as well as Crete have been canceled, preventing the movements of many tourists, at the peak of the season.

Ferries were still able to leave

At the end of the morning at least three ferries finally left for cyclades – more particularly for Paros and Santorini -as well as for Crete while the routes to the Dudecannesis Islands (southeast) scheduled for the end of the afternoon, will be carried out, the port police assured.

The maritime links with the islands close to Athens, in the Saronic Gulf – Egine, Hydra, Poros or Spets – as well as those with the islands in the Ionian Sea (West) were however not canceled, according to the same source.

The strong wind of the north, called “meltem”, is usual at the Aegean Sea especially in August, often causing cancellations of maritime links.

In addition, after an emergency meeting, the Ministry of Civil Protection has placed certain regions of the country, especially the Attica -Agglomeration of Athens -, the east of Peloponnese and Crete, “in red vigilance” due to “a very high risk of fire”.

According to the National Meteorological Service (Ety), gusts on Friday should reach 88 km/h.

The National Observatory of Athens warned in a statement that there was a “very high risk of forest fires due to the wind”, in particular in the east and the south of the country.

The mayor of Athens also closed the parks of the capital, whose national garden in the center after a tree fell into one of the most frequented shopping arteries in the city, shortly lacking passers -by.

Located in the eastern Mediterranean, very exposed to climate change, Greece is affected each year by serious fires.

Very high temperatures

Many fires have taken place since June in the country, including one on the island of Chios (northeast of the Aegean) which had devastated more than 4,000 hectares, and another in the west of Peloponnesis in July, more than 1000 hectares.

A week ago, following a prolonged heat wave with temperatures that exceeded 45 ° C, many fires had declared themselves across the country, including one near Athens, which had led to evacuations of inhabitants and damaged dwellings.

AFP

Did you find an error? Please report it to us.

0 comments