Weather
Heat: Several dead tourists in Greece
Tourists on the Aeropagous Hill in front of the ancient Acropolis in the center of Athens. Photo
© Petros Giannakouris/AP
They set off in the blazing midday sun, forget their mobile phones, go alone or have already had several beers: In Greece, the number of tourists dying on excursions is increasing.
Despite urgent warnings from authorities, hoteliers and residents, this year At least five tourists have already died while hiking in Greece. Often because they set off too carelessly – in the midday heat, alone or despite old age. According to media reports, at least one of them also drank several beers before setting off.
The death of a BBC journalist who was well-known in Britain initially made headlines: the presenter was reported missing on the island of Symi at the beginning of June and was eventually found dead. He had taken the wrong route while hiking and had collapsed in a place where the search party had difficulty finding him, the authorities said.
There were two more deaths on Crete: one time an 80-year-old tourist went hiking on his own and was found dead a day later, the other time a 70-year-old tourist collapsed on the beach and died. On the small island of Mathraki, a 55-year-old American died while hiking. On Samos, a 74-year-old Dutchman went hiking alone – and was found dead days later.
Temperatures up to 40 degrees
There are also concerns about several missing people: on the island of Amorgos, there has been no trace of an American who set out on a hike for more than a week. On the island of Sikinos, two elderly French tourists who are said to have set out on a hike last week have not yet been found.
Greece has been hit by extreme heat particularly early this year: according to meteorologists, it has never been this hot since records began in early June. Temperatures have reached up to 40 degrees at times – and even more in the blazing midday sun.