Greek and foreign tourists evacuated by sea from Mt. Pilio's southern region of Platanias

A large operation to evacuate by sea people trapped at the Mikros community of Platanias, in South Mt. Pilio, was concluded successfully on Thursday.

Over 150 people were trapped as of Tuesday morning after the road leading to the community was completely destroyed. All of them were Greek and foreign tourists on holiday in the area.

Evacuating them by land was impossible after torrential rain and floods destroyed the only road access to the coastal community. South Pilio Mayor Michalis Mitzikos contacted the Central Port Authority of Volos to send a tourist vessel ('Tarzan') to pick up a total of 105 Greeks and foreigners who had been without power, water or food for three days after hotels and inns ran out of supplies.

A second evacuation effort was ongoing as of 17:00 to evacuate hundreds of residents and foreign tourists from Platanias proper, with the help of Mayor Mitzikos and Civil Protection. Also trapped at Platanias are Serbian buses that had transported the tourists from the neighboring country.