In Volos Port, Greece, massive fish deaths occur due to climate fluctuations, with over 100 tons of dead fish piled up

On August 29, 2024, in Volos, a port city in central Greece, a large-scale fish death event related to extreme climate fluctuations has attracted widespread attention. Authorities said that more than 100 tons of dead fish have been collected in Volos Port and surrounding areas.

Last year's floods caused the water level to rise, followed by months of severe drought. These dead freshwater fish filled the bay and nearby rivers 320 kilometers north of Athens. According to the Volos Chamber of Commerce, in the past three days, the fish death incident has hit local businesses hard, reducing business activities by 80%.

Local authorities rented fishing boats and bulldozers to scoop up the dead fish from the sea and load them onto trucks bound for incinerators. These fish come from Lake Karla in central Greece. The lake was drained in the early 1960s and restored in 2018 to deal with the impact of drought. Anna Maria Papadimitriou, deputy prefect of the Thessaly region in central Greece, said that there are millions of dead fish from Lake Karla all the way to 20 kilometers to the east. At present, great efforts are being made to clean up the dead fish washed ashore, and multiple contractors are involved.

Last autumn, a deadly storm caused extensive flooding in central Greece and the water level suddenly rose. But in the following months, there was little rainfall and continuous heat waves this summer, and the water level dropped again. The mayor of Volos criticized the slow actions of local authorities. The city's chamber of commerce said it is taking legal action to seek compensation after estimating an 80% drop in business activities. The chamber's statement said that businesses along the seaside, especially the catering industry, have suspended operations. The strong stench has disgusted residents and tourists, dealing a heavy blow to Volos' tourism industry.