German Hiker Becomes 6th Casualty Amid Soaring Temperatures in Greece

A German hiker has tragically been discovered deceased on the island of Crete, according to a statement from the fire department, marking another casualty in Greece amid unusually high summer temperatures.

The 68-year-old man had been reported missing on Sunday and was found near a ravine in the southern region of the island, inaccessible by helicopter, requiring rescuers to transport his body on foot.

This incident is the sixth fatality among foreign tourists in June across popular Greek islands. Earlier this month, BBC TV presenter Michael Mosley was found deceased on Symi. An 80-year-old Belgian man was also found dead near Lato in eastern Crete, followed by a 55-year-old Dutch man found in his car on a cliff edge in the southeast of the island. Additionally, a 74-year-old Dutch man was discovered deceased on Samos, and a 55-year-old American man near Corfu.

Further, two French women aged 73 and 64 remain missing on Sikinos, while a 59-year-old American man visiting Amorgos has been unaccounted for since mid-June.

The Greek public health authorities have issued warnings about the dangers of heat exposure this month, advising against outdoor activities during the hottest hours of the day. Greece saw its earliest recorded summer heatwave between 11th and 13th June, with temperatures surpassing 40°C (104°F) in many regions. High temperatures near 40°C were also reported across various parts of the country last week.