Strong winds in Greece: Two Vietnamese tourists die, maritime traffic disrupted

Friday 08 August 2025 - 14:00

Two Vietnamese tourists died on the Greek island of Milos due to strong winds that also caused significant disruptions to ferry services across the Aegean Sea during peak tourist season, according to the Greek port police.

The man and woman were found unconscious near Sarakiniko beach and later declared dead at a local health center. Authorities believe the woman fell into the sea and the man drowned while attempting to rescue her. Both were part of a cruise group.

Maritime accidents and drownings are unfortunately common during the Greek summer, when thousands flock to the country’s beaches and islands.

Due to strong northern winds — known locally as the "meltemi" — ferry routes from the port of Piraeus to the Cyclades and Dodecanese islands were temporarily suspended. Popular destinations like Mykonos, Paros, and Crete saw cancellations, leaving many tourists stranded.

Later in the day, some ferry services resumed toward Santorini, Paros, and Crete, while connections to the Saronic Gulf and Ionian islands remained unaffected.

Meanwhile, the Ministry for Civil Protection placed regions such as Attica (Athens), eastern Peloponnese, and Crete on "red alert" for wildfire risk, as wind gusts were expected to reach up to 88 km/h. The Athens mayor also ordered the closure of parks after a large tree collapsed in the city center, narrowly avoiding injuries.

Greece, highly vulnerable to climate change, has already suffered several wildfires this summer. Notably, over 4,000 hectares burned on Chios island and another 1,000 in the western Peloponnese. Last week, wildfires near Athens led to evacuations and property damage following extreme heatwaves with temperatures over 45°C.