Another tourist has been found dead in Greece after going missing during a hike on the island of Crete, according to Greek authorities.
This tourist’s death is just the latest report from officials in Greece, as many visitors in the country have died amid a devastating heat wave that has encompassed much of the country and its islands.
A Tourist Has Died in Greece
This latest incident involves a 67-year-old German man visiting the island of Crete. Constantina Dimoglidou, a police spokesperson, revealed that this unnamed man had gotten in contact with his wife on Sunday afternoon.
He told her that he felt sick, and he had run out of water. However, he did not know where he was and could not seem to find his way back.
An Immediate Search
This prompted Greek police and rescue services to quickly begin a search to find this missing tourist. Authorities were able to trace his cellphone signal after he made this call to his wife.
His body was first spotted by a drone on Sunday evening. On Monday, a service team sent responders by helicopter to reach the body. However, it did take several hours before they were successful.
The Discovery of the Tourist
Unfortunately, the rescue team was not able to save this man’s life. By the time they found him, he had already passed.
His body was discovered near the Tripiti Gorge in the southwest of Crete in an area that was deemed “rugged and inaccessible terrain.” This gorge is normally only undertaken by hikers who are experienced.
Many Tourist Deaths
This man’s name, nor his cause of death, have yet to be revealed by Greek authorities.
His death is the most recent tragedy that has rocked Greece and its islands this summer, as at least 10 tourists have either gone missing or been found dead thanks to the country’s ongoing heat wave.
Consistent Heat Waves
Greece has faced back-to-back heat waves throughout much of its regions, prompting temperatures to skyrocket to more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit for several days.
These heat waves have also arrived much earlier in the area than they normally do, which has affected locals and tourists in dangerous ways.
Hiking Tragedies
Many of these recent tourist deaths in Greece have occurred while visitors were hiking or sightseeing. Crete has already seen three other deaths this year, not including this most recent tragedy.
This summer, an 80-year-old Belgian man, a 70-year-old Dutchman, and a 70-year-old Frenchwoman all died while they were on hiking trips on Crete.
Other Deaths Around Greece
While Crete has seemingly faced the most tragedies during these consistent heat waves, other areas of Greece have also struggled to deal with tourists dying from excessive weather.
A 74-year-old Dutchman was found dead during a hike on the island of Samos, while a well-known British journalist and documentarian, Michael Mosley, was found dead on the island of Symi.
Many Tourists Are Still Missing
Unfortunately, many tourists are still missing after taking hikes or walks while vacationing in Greece this summer. Greek authorities are still looking for them, but officials worry that these searches won’t be successful with each new day, thanks to accelerated decomposition in the extreme heat.
At least three tourists remain missing, including a 59-year-old man on the island of Amorgos and two Frenchwomen, aged 73 and 64, on the island of Sikinos.
A New Normal in Greece
Greek authorities have explained that tourists often walk off trails while on hikes in Greece. In the past, they’ve gone missing, and rescue teams have had to find them.
However, these officials have noted that these situations often don’t result in death. This year, thanks to these excessive temperatures, a new normal has appeared in Greece, as many tourists have indeed died.
Wildfires Are Making the Situation Worse
Greece has already had to deal with abnormally high temperatures thanks to back-to-back heat waves. However, Greece has had its weather situation made even worse by ongoing wildfires seen in various parts of the country.
Though fire services are still trying to douse these wildfires, they haven’t been completely successful yet. This has caused heat in some areas to be exacerbated.
Official Warnings
As many tourists — particularly elder visitors — have struggled while vacationing in Greece this year, officials have publicly warned many to stay indoors during this period of extreme heat.
However, Greece hasn’t issued any bans on hiking, or on visiting historic sites around their country and islands, yet.
