Greek authorities reported on Monday that the remains of a missing German tourist were discovered near a gorge on Crete, marking another tragic incident involving tourists undertaking strenuous hikes amid extreme heat.
According to Greek officials, in 2024 alone, at least 10 tourists have either gone missing or been found dead under similar conditions.
Greece has been experiencing unprecedented early heat waves, with temperatures surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit, 38 degrees Celsius, in several regions for consecutive days.
The body of the 67-year-old man was located in “rugged and inaccessible terrain” near the Tripiti Gorge in Crete’s southwest, as stated by the fire service.
The initial sighting occurred Sunday evening via drone. On Monday morning, the fire service deployed a helicopter, although it took several hours for responders to reach the site.
Just days earlier, on June 19, a Dutch man was discovered dead in his car, precariously situated at the edge of a cliff on the same island.
Around the same period, hotel staff in the town of Lato, Crete, discovered the body of an 80-year-old Belgian tourist.
One of the more high-profile incidents involves BBC presenter Michael Mosley, whose body was recovered on Symi Island on June 9.
Also, two French women, aged 73 and 64, have been missing on the island of Sikinos for over a week, while a 59-year-old American tourist has been unaccounted for on the island of Amorgos since June 11.
In response to these incidents and the extreme heat waves, Greek public health authorities have issued warnings about the dangers of high temperatures, advising people to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day.
