Volos, a popular tourist destination in central Greece, is facing an environmental disaster as hundreds of thousands of dead fish have washed up in its port. The floating carcasses have created a foul odor that has alarmed residents and authorities. The fish are believed to have been displaced from their freshwater habitats during severe flooding last year.
Volos, Greece - Authorities in Volos, a popular tourist destination in central Greece, are scrambling to collect hundreds of thousands of dead fish that have poured into the city's port. The floating carcasses have created a silvery blanket across the port and a stench that has alarmed residents and authorities.
Dead Fish Invasion Overwhelms Greek Tourist Port
City council member Stelios Limnios described the situation as "kilometers-long." The dead fish are not only along the coast but also in the center of the Pagasetic Gulf, which is dotted with holiday homes.
On Wednesday, trawlers were deployed to collect the fish using nets. More than 40 tonnes have been collected in the last 24 hours. However, the sheer number of dead fish is overwhelming the authorities.
Dead Fish Invasion Overwhelms Greek Tourist Port
Volos mayor Achilleas Beos has expressed frustration with the government's handling of the situation. He blames the government for failing to deal with the problem before it reached his city. Beos fears that the rotting fish could create an environmental disaster for other species in the area.
Experts believe the problem was caused by historic floods last year that inundated the Thessaly plane in northern Greece. The floods displaced fish from rivers and lakes, and when the fish reached the sea, the saltwater likely killed them.
Local prosecutors have ordered an investigation into the incident. The environment ministry has not responded to requests for comment.
The disaster is the latest impact of extreme weather in Greece, which scientists link to climate change. Higher temperatures and erratic rainfall are causing more frequent wildfires and flooding.
Dimosthenis Bakoyiannis, who owns a beach restaurant near Volos, has seen his turnover drop by 80% this summer due to the influx of tourists. He believes that the government's response to the situation has been too slow.
"Closing the barrier now doesn't help," he said. "Now it's too late, the tourist season is over."
