Vietnamese Couple Drowns, Wildfires Spread in Greece

A Vietnamese tourist couple drowned at Sarakiniko Beach on Milos island, Greece, after being swept away by powerful waves while taking a selfie, with the man dying in an attempt to rescue his partner. The tragedy occurred amid severe gale-force winds, which reached up to 88 km/h and led to the widespread cancellation or postponement of most ferry departures from major Athens ports, particularly to the Cyclades and Dodecanese islands. These extreme conditions also ignited wildfires near Athens and on the island of Cephalonia, prompting evacuations and straining firefighting resources. Authorities warned that the risk of wind-driven forest fires remained high, though winds were expected to subside after midnight. The incident highlighted the dangers posed by sudden weather changes at popular Greek tourist destinations. Sarakiniko Beach, famous for its white volcanic rocks, is especially exposed to strong winds.