The first two German motorhome campers were arrested for parking on the beach on the Peloponnese, extensive controls on Crete too, two dead German tourists in Greece, moderately strong earthquake off Crete and the Samaria Gorge closed.
First motorhome tourists arrested
A new law just dropped, and it’s pretty strict about where motorhomes can park. The list of forbidden spots is long: archaeological sites, beaches, shorelines, forest edges, and other public areas are all off-limits.
The whole idea is to keep these places from turning into unofficial campsites. Authorities didn’t waste any time—they rolled out a big police operation in a region in the Peloponnese to check who’s following the rules.
Lots of vehicles and people got stopped. Here’s what the numbers looked like:
Police Checks and Arrests
- People checked: 933 (792 locals, 141 foreigners)
- Vehicles inspected: 657
- Individuals detained for questioning: 76
- People arrested: 48
- Traffic violations noted: 285
- Vehicles immobilised: 17
Specific Arrests and Violations in Messinia
Person(s) |
Location |
Reason for Arrest or Charge |
|---|---|---|
German couple (aged 70 and 66) |
Kalo Nero beach |
Parked motorhome outside designated camping area |
16-year-old youth |
Kalamata |
Possession of 0.5 grams of cannabis |
47-year-old mother |
Kalamata |
Neglect of supervising minor (son arrested) |
Individual (age unspecified) |
N/A |
Licence for weapon expired |
69-year-old father |
N/A |
Neglect of supervising minor (son driving offence) |
Two Roma (51 and 45 years) |
Messinia |
Missing identity cards |
34-year-old Roma |
Messini |
Violation of public health regulations |
Four individuals |
Messinia |
Various road traffic offences |
Impact on Motorhome Tourism
The motorhome crowd, especially folks who love touring Greece, aren’t thrilled. Many are worried these new rules could really cramp their style compared to what’s happening in other European countries.
The pushback has gone global. There’s even a video by a Norwegian couple explaining the new restrictions—it racked up tens of thousands of views and a flood of critical comments.
Some travelers are now saying they might just skip Greece entirely. That’s not exactly the kind of buzz the tourism board wants.
Arrest and a 24-hour detention for many traffic offences are the rule in Greece, in addition to the fine!
Key Points to Remember
- Motorhome parking banned in a bunch of protected and public spots.
- Police are actively checking vehicles and making arrests.
- The sector’s worried—will motorhome tourism take a hit in Greece?
- Foreign visitors are paying attention, and some might think twice about coming.
Targeted Police Actions to Combat Crime in Crete
Also, the police in Crete have been busy lately, running focused operations to tackle crime and make locals feel safer. They checked 536 people and 434 vehicles in the process.
Across these sweeps, they logged 181 violations. Most were traffic-related—166 in total, with eight for drunk driving. There were 15 other offences, too.
They detained 24 people. Charges ranged from drug offences and driving under the influence to driving without a licence.
Some arrests were for health code violations in businesses, animal welfare breaches, domestic violence, and neglect of minors. Even a minor ended up in custody.
These operations were coordinated by the General Regional Police Directorate of Crete. Police from Chania, Rethymno, and Lassithi joined forces, rolling out in phases to cover more ground.
They seized some cannabis during the raids. Reducing juvenile delinquency and cutting down on traffic accidents were also on the agenda.
Summary of key outcomes:
Item |
Number |
|---|---|
Individuals checked |
536 |
Vehicles inspected |
434 |
Total violations recorded |
181 |
Traffic offences |
166 |
Of which for driving drunk |
8 |
Other offences recorded |
15 |
People arrested |
24 |
People brought for questioning |
43 |
Categories of arrests included:
- Drug-related offences
- Driving under the influence
- Driving without a licence
- Health code violations in establishments
- Breaches of animal welfare laws
- Domestic violence incidents
- Neglect of minors
4-year-old German boy dies in the River Neda in the Peloponnese
A heartbreaking accident happened near the River Neda, right on the border between Ilia and Messinia. A 4-year-old German boy, hiking with his father, slipped and fell 25 metres near a small waterfall.
Rescue teams jumped into action, but the boy’s injuries were just too severe. He died despite being airlifted to Kalamata Hospital.
The boy’s father was only slightly injured. The child suffered head and spine injuries, and the rescue effort involved firefighters, police, ambulance staff, and even the air force.
The spot where it happened is beautiful, but it’s also tough terrain—steep, rocky, and not easy to reach. Hiking the Neda gorge is popular, but it’s not for the unprepared.
Witnesses said the boy ran ahead on a flat bit just before the falls, lost his footing, and tumbled into the river, hitting a tree on the way down. His dad got to him first and tried to help until more help arrived.
Emergency crews worked for hours in tricky conditions. The boy was carried by ambulance to a spot where the helicopter could land, but it wasn’t enough.
Key facts about the incident:
Item |
Detail |
|---|---|
Location |
River Neda area, near Ilia and Messinia border |
Victims |
4-year-old boy (deceased), father (Slightly injured) |
Cause of accident |
Fall from 25 metres on a hiking trail |
Terrain difficulty |
Rugged, remote, near waterfall |
Rescue services involved |
Firefighters, police, national ambulance, air force |
Hospital |
Kalamata Hospital (child airlifted) |
Cause of death |
Severe head and spine injuries |
Death of a German tourist by a driver without a licence on Rhodes
A 74-year-old German tourist lost her life in Rhodes after a serious traffic accident. She was hit by a car driven by a 19-year-old Albanian man, and despite the efforts of emergency crews and hospital staff, she didn’t make it.
The crash happened just after 9 p.m. on Friday, near the Blue Sea hotel in Faliraki, on the Rhodes-Kallithea road. The young driver apparently lost control while trying to dodge an oncoming car, ended up on the pavement, and struck a German couple walking there.
The woman’s injuries were catastrophic—she lost a limb and died soon after. Her husband was hurt, but not as badly.
Police arrested the 19-year-old at the scene. Turns out, he didn’t even have a licence. Legal proceedings are underway.
Key details of the incident:
Detail |
|
|---|---|
Victim’s age and nationality |
74-year-old German woman |
Location |
Rhodes-Kallithea road, Faliraki area |
Date and time |
Friday, around 21:00 |
Driver |
19-year-old male, Albanian origin |
Cause of accident |
Driver avoided oncoming vehicle, hit pedestrians |
Injuries |
Female victim amputated, fatal injuries; male victim lightly injured |
Legal status |
Driver arrested; no driving licence; case filed |
Locals are understandably upset, especially since the driver was unlicensed. There’s a renewed call for tougher road safety enforcement to prevent more tragedies like this.
The National Emergency Centre (EKAB) and hospital teams did what they could, but the outcome was grim. It’s a stark reminder of the risks unlicensed drivers pose, especially in busy tourist spots.
Earthquake of Magnitude 4.1 Near Crete
An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale hit early Monday morning, 12 May 2025, at 05:17 local time. The epicentre was out at sea, about 106 kilometres west-southwest of Falasarna, which sits on the western edge of Crete’s Chania region.
From Athens, that’s roughly 328 kilometres to the south-southwest. It was only a moderately strong quake and quite far off the coast, and honestly, there haven’t been any reports of injuries or property damage so far—which is always a relief.
Hence the reason why we only mention moderately strong earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater here. Although you can feel quakes of magnitude 3 or greater nearby if you have not lived here for too long and are therefore numb, there is no real danger from these weak tremors anyway!
Key Details:
Detail |
Information |
|---|---|
Date and Time |
12 May 2025, 05:17 |
Magnitude |
4.1 |
Location |
106 km WSW of Falasarna, Crete |
Distance from Athens |
328 km SSW |
Region |
Western Crete, Chania area |
Reported Damage/Injuries |
None reported |
It’s yet another reminder of the ongoing seismic activity that keeps folks around Crete on their toes.
Samaria Gorge closed due to the weather
The Environmental Agency announced on Monday morning that Samaria Gorge will be closed today. This move comes after weather forecasts hinted at possible thunderstorms.
Updated rain measurements are apparently hovering right near the threshold set by local authorities.
The closure affects both entrances of the gorge, so no visitors will be allowed in for now. This is a safety measure to keep people out of harm’s way—nobody wants to be caught in a flash storm down there.
Key points about the closure:
Aspect |
Details |
|---|---|
Reason for closure |
Forecast of thunderstorms and rainfall |
Date of closure |
Monday, 12 May 2025 |
Effected areas |
Both entrances of Samaria Gorge |
Responsible agency |
Environmental and Climate Change Agency |
If you’re thinking about visiting, it’s worth checking for updates before you make the trip. The agency keeps stressing how crucial personal safety is, especially with the weather acting up.
Honestly, it’s not unusual for the gorge to close when the weather turns rough. Flooding, rockfalls, and slippery paths are all part of the risk when storms roll in.
The agency is asking for everyone’s patience and understanding while these restrictions are in place. At the end of the day, keeping people safe has to come first in places like Samaria Gorge.
