Greek authorities said Monday that the body of a missing German man had been recovered near a ravine on the island of Crete, the latest in a string of deaths involving tourists in the sweltering heat.
At least 10 tourists have gone missing or died in similar circumstances this year, according to Greek authorities. The country has experienced repeated heat waves earlier than usual this year, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in many areas for several days in a row.
The fire service said in a statement that the body of a 67-year-old man was found in “rough and inaccessible terrain” near the Tripiti Valley in southwestern Crete. It was first spotted by a drone on Sunday evening. Early Monday morning, the fire service dispatched a helicopter, but it took several hours for responders to reach the body.
As of Monday, the man’s name and cause of death had not been released.
Constantina Dimoglido, a police spokeswoman, said the man contacted his wife on Sunday afternoon to say he had run out of water and was feeling sick. His whereabouts are unknown, but authorities have traced his cell phone signal.
Tripiti Valley is a grueling trek usually undertaken by experienced trekkers, Ms Dimoglido said.
Monday’s discovery is the latest in a string of tourist deaths over the past month.
An 80-year-old Belgian man, a Dutchman and a 70-year-old French woman died on separate hiking trips on the island of Crete.
Another Dutch climber, 74, was found dead on the Greek island of Samos.
On June 9, the remains of Michael Moseley, a popular British medical journalist and documentary filmmaker, were found on Simi Island after he went missing while hiking in extreme heat.
At least three tourists have gone missing after going on the trek, including 59-year-old Albert Calibet, a dual national of the United States and France, who has been missing on the Aegean island of Amorgos since June 11. Authorities are still searching. Two French women, aged 73 and 64, went missing on the island of Chiginous on June 14.
Any hope of rescuing the missing hikers after several days is dwindling, while the prospect of finding their remains becomes increasingly uncertain as decomposition accelerates in the intense heat.
He added that hikers going astray is not a new thing, but they don’t often die in valleys. “This year, more people seem to have been distracted in the extreme heat,” a police spokesman said.
On days when extreme heat is forecast, Greek authorities generally warn older citizens and those with health problems to stay indoors. However, they are guidelines, and there are generally no restrictions on hiking or entering historic sites.
However, because of the extreme heat, Greek authorities closed several schools in Athens earlier this month and restricted visiting hours to several ancient sites, including the Acropolis.
The search for the missing hikers continues as the Greek fire service also struggles to put out forest fires in many parts of the country. Several days of warm temperatures, dry brush and strong winds created tinderbox conditions, fueling fires on the Greek islands and mainland.
