By Tragedy struck the Greek island of Samos as a missing Dutch tourist was found dead early Saturday, local media reported. The 74-year-old’s body was discovered by a Fire Service drone, face down in a ravine approximately 300 meters (330 yards) from where he was last seen on Sunday, struggling to walk in the scorching heat.
This incident is the latest in a series of cases involving tourists who have died or gone missing while visiting the Greek islands, with some, if not all, having embarked on hikes in the sweltering temperatures.
Last Sunday, Dr. Michael Mosley, a well-known British television anchor and author, was found dead on the island of Symi. A coroner determined that Mosley had passed away the previous Wednesday, shortly after setting out on a hike over challenging, rocky terrain.
Authorities are still searching for four other tourists reported missing in recent days. On Friday, two French women, aged 73 and 64, were reported missing on Sikinos, a secluded Cyclades island in the Aegean Sea with a permanent population of less than 400. The women had left their respective hotels to meet but never returned.
A 70-year-old American tourist was reported missing on Thursday on the small island of Mathraki, located in Greece’s northwest extremity. The man was last seen on Tuesday at a cafe with two female tourists who have since left the island. Strong winds have prevented police and the fire service from reaching Mathraki to conduct a search as of Saturday afternoon.
On the island of Amorgos, a search continues for a 59-year-old tourist, identified by U.S. media as retired Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Albert Calibet of Hermosa Beach, California. Calibet was reported missing on Tuesday after setting out on a solo hike in extremely hot conditions.
The recent incidents have sparked media commentary on the need to better inform tourists about the dangers of hiking in intense heat. Temperatures across Greece on Saturday were more than 10 degrees Celsius (18 Fahrenheit) lower than on Thursday when they peaked at nearly 45 C (113 F). However, temperatures are expected to rise again from Sunday, although not to the same extreme levels.
As the Greek islands continue to attract record numbers of visitors, with Amorgos alone welcoming over 100,000 tourists a couple of years ago, the tragic events serve as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety and being well-prepared when exploring the beautiful but sometimes unforgiving landscapes in challenging weather conditions.
