The body of a missing German man has been found near a canyon on the island of Crete, Greek authorities said on Monday, the latest in a series of fatal incidents involving tourists asking for hiking in sweltering heat.
At least 10 tourists have gone missing or been found dead under similar circumstances this year, according to Greek authorities. This year, the country has experienced successive heat waves earlier than usual, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) for several consecutive days in many areas.
The 67-year-old man’s body was found in “rugged and inaccessible terrain” near the Tripiti Gorge in southwestern Crete, the fire department said in a statement. It was first spotted by a drone on Sunday night. The fire department sent a helicopter early Monday, but it took rescuers several hours to reach the body.
The man’s name and cause of death had not been released as of Monday.
Police spokesperson Constantina Dimoglidou said the man contacted his wife early Sunday afternoon to say he had run out of water and was not feeling well. He didn’t know his location, but authorities tracked his cell phone signal.
Ms Dimoglidu said the Tripiti Gorge was a demanding hike usually undertaken by experienced hikers.
Monday’s discovery is the latest in a series of tourist deaths over the past month.
An 80-year-old Belgian man, a Dutch man and a French woman (all 70) all died while hiking in Crete.
Another 74-year-old Dutch hiker was found dead on the Greek island of Samos.
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On June 9, the body of Michael Mosley, a famous British medical journalist and documentary producer, was found on Symi Island. He disappeared while taking a walk in the sweltering heat.
At least three tourists are still missing after hiking, including 59-year-old Albert Calibet, a dual U.S.-French citizen who has been in Aegean Sea since June 11 Missing on the island of Argos.
With so many days passed, hopes of rescuing the missing hikers are fading, Ms. Dimoglio said, and prospects for finding the remains are becoming increasingly uncertain as decomposition accelerates in the sweltering heat.
Ms. Dimoglidu said it was nothing new for hikers to go astray, but they rarely died in the canyon. “This year, more people appear to have become lost in the heat,” a police spokesman said.
Greek authorities typically issue warnings to the elderly and people with existing health problems to stay indoors on days when extreme heat is expected. However, these are just guidelines and generally do not prohibit hiking or entering historic sites.
However, Greek authorities closed many schools in Athens due to the intense heat earlier this month and restricted visiting hours at several ancient sites, including the Acropolis.
While searching for the missing hikers, Greek fire services are also working to put out wildfires in several parts of the country. Several days of high temperatures, dry brushes and Strong winds created powder keg conditions, exacerbating fires on the Greek islands and mainland.
