Why there’s a string of dead and missing tourists in Greece

Over the month of June, at least six tourists were reported dead or missing in different Greek islands.

In June, a Dutch tourist, an American one, and a UK tv presenter were found dead in the islands of Samos, Mathraki and Symi respectively, according to CNN.

Moreover, the search continues for three missing tourists: American Albert Calibet, missing since June 11, when he set out for a hike in Amorgos. And two French women, who disappeared on Sikinos after going for a walk.

But why is this happening? According to scientists, the extreme heat might be the reason behind the deaths and disappearances of tourists in Greece.

Meteorologist Panos Giannopoulos told Greek state television channel ERT: "This heatwave will go down in history. In the 20th century, we never had a heatwave before 19 June. We have had several in the 21st century, but none before 15 June."

Photo: Arthur Yeti/ Unsplash

Although the bodies of those who died still need to be examined to establish the precise cause of death, authorities are warning people not to underestimate the impacts of extremely high temperatures.

“There is a common pattern,” Petros Vassilakis, the police spokesman for the Southern Aegean, told Reuters, “they all went for a hike amid high temperatures.”

According to a CNN report, scientists are saying that what’s happening in Greece offers a warning sign about the impacts of extreme heat in the body, and particularly in the brain, the organ responsible for regulating body temperature.

When it’s hot, the hypothalamus activates the sweat glands and widens blood vessels to cool the body down. So as heat increases, the blood flow to the brain can decrease, potentially causing confusion and altering decision making.

“The brain networks that usually allow people to think clearly, to reason, to remember, and to construct and formulate ideas, can get thrown out of whack,” neuroscientist Kim Meidenbauer told CNN.

One of the two French women who are missing sent a distress text to her hotel that said “I am fall”, according to a Reuters report. She’s 73 years old, while her companion is 64. The search continues for both of them, according to French paper ‘Le Fígaro’.

Photo: Pixabay

Age is also a factor that affects heat regulation. Those over 65 and very young children are more at risk, experts say. All of the missing and dead tourists in Greece are over 50 years old.

However, extreme heat can affect anyone. This is why experts recommend, no matter your age,  not to exercise during the hottest parts of the day, to keep hydrated and to stay in the shade as much as possible.

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