A 32-year-old Ukrainian woman, who was residing in Germany, was the tourist who died in Samaria gorge on Wednesday, state-run news agency amna.gr reported on Thursday, clarifying initially confusing information about the rockfall victim.
The woman was member of a group hiking through the gorge.
Following a heavy rainfall, the woman died of uncontrolled bleeding as a falling rock crushed on her leg and injuring the femoral artery, eyewitnesses reported.
KTG reported here on the tragedy in Samaria gorge.on Wednesday
Firefighters arrived at the lower entrance of the gorge and recovered the woman’s body, who was found unresponsive.
The severe weather and rain affecting the Chania region since early morning Wednesday reportedly caused the rock slide.
According to the Deputy Regional Governor for Civil Protection in Crete George Tsapakis, a total of 300 tourists were trapped in the gorge. However, state broadcaster ERT reiterated that it was 1.074.
The 10 hikers who spent the night in the gorge settlement will be evacuated today. According to ERT, they are from UK, Belgium and the Netherlands. They were reportedly not aware of the tragedy but rescuers thought it would be safer for them to spend the night there due to the bad weather conditions. They are elderly hikers.
The Samaria gorge will remain closed to public until inspection and evaluation of the soil situation is concluded.
The gorge in Samaria is popular among hikers especially in the months of September and October, away from the the summer heat.
Glad the deputy regional governor was not leading the rescue, there could have been 774 people left behind. Politicians 🤪.