A tragic incident occurred on Friday at Sarakiniko beach on the Greek island of Milos, where a tourist couple from Vietnam lost their lives.
According to reports, the 64-year-old woman was initially swept off her feet by strong winds, which reached an intensity of 9 on the Beaufort scale. When her 65-year-old husband attempted to rescue her, he also fell into the sea, and both ultimately perished. The couple was visiting Milos as part of a 16-person cruise ship group.
The woman’s body was recovered by a private boat, while the man’s body was found and retrieved by a private diver. Both bodies were transported to the island’s Health Center, where they were officially pronounced dead.
Greece hit by strong winds
Strong winds are causing ferry cancellations and a high risk of fires in several regions across Greece.
Ferry departures from the ports of Piraeus, Lavrio, and Rafina to the Aegean islands, particularly the Cyclades, are canceled until at least 12:00 p.m. due to gale-force winds reaching up to 9 Beaufort.
The Coast Guard advises travelers to contact their shipping companies for updated departure times and to avoid causing traffic congestion at the ports.
Why Sarakiniko Beach is a tourist magnet
Sarakiniko beach is one of the most famous and unique landscapes in the Aegean, attracting a high volume of tourists and photographers. Its allure comes from a surreal, “lunar” landscape created by centuries of wind and wave erosion on its distinctive white volcanic rock.
Unlike a typical sandy beach, Sarakiniko offers an otherworldly environment of smooth, bone-white rock formations, small caves, and natural coves.
Visitors come to explore this geological marvel, sunbathe on the smooth rock surfaces, and swim in the stunningly clear turquoise waters that contrast dramatically with the white cliffs.
The area’s extraordinary appearance makes it one of the most photographed locations in Greece, though its exposed nature, as seen in this morning’s tragedy, makes it particularly vulnerable to high winds and rough seas.
