Environmental Catastrophe Strikes Volos as Hundreds of Thousands of Fish Die

Vacationers at Lepi, a popular harborside taverna in Volos, Greece, typically savor glasses of ouzo accompanied by grilled octopus and stuffed peppers, all while enjoying stunning views of the Pagasetic Gulf. However, this week, they were met with the foul odor of hundreds of thousands of dead fish littering the coastline, transforming the picturesque scene into an environmental disaster.

Officials attribute this grim situation to flooding from last year, which drove freshwater fish into the salty sea. As authorities work to clear the decaying masses, concerns grow over the potential long-term impacts on the local ecosystem. The incident has also severely affected the area’s tourism-dependent economy, with commercial activity plummeting by an estimated 80% in just three days, according to the local Chamber of Commerce.

“The smell has been unbearable,” lamented Theofilos Voulgaris, the owner of Lepi. “The port is filled with dead fish.” This peak summer season has been particularly devastating for his highly-rated seafood restaurant, as the unpleasant odor deters customers during what would normally be a bustling lunch hour.

This event is part of a broader trend of extreme weather affecting Greece, where tourism and agriculture are vital to the economy. Climate change is believed to be intensifying the frequency of such disasters, including wildfires, heatwaves, and heavy rains. Last September, Storm Daniel struck Greece, resulting in at least 17 fatalities and devastating crops, particularly cotton.

The floods from Storm Daniel impacted the Thessaly Plain, leading to the swelling of nearby Lake Karla. As the lake’s waters returned to normal, freshwater fish were pushed downstream into the saltwater of the Pagasetic Gulf, resulting in their mass deaths.

Cleanup efforts are underway, with trawlers and excavators removing the dead fish, and officials estimate that around 100 tons have already been collected. Despite this, a political dispute looms, as Volos Mayor Achilleas Beos criticized the central government for failing to install protective nets at the river’s mouth, which he argues could have prevented this ecological and economic crisis. He warned that the rotting fish could lead to further environmental disasters for local wildlife.

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