Severe flooding in Greece’s Pagasetic Gulf has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of fish, causing an ecological and economic disaster. Business owners in the area are struggling as the stench of rotting fish is driving away customers, leading to an 80% decline in commercial activity. Officials have been working to collect and dispose of the dead fish, with 100 tons already sent to an incinerator. Residents have described the situation as extremely unpleasant, with the entire sea and port filled with dead fish.
The flooding that caused the fish deaths also resulted in the deaths of 10 people in central Greece last year. The aftermath of the floods left many households without power or running water, and officials had to evacuate several areas, including a retirement home in Volos. The effects of the floods are still present this week as the changing water levels created the mass of dead fish.
Volos Mayor Achilleas Beos has criticized the government for the crisis, stating that it could have been prevented. He warned that the dead fish could lead to an environmental disaster for other species in the area. The situation has drawn attention to the need for better disaster preparedness and mitigation measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
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