Zakynthos’ popular attraction, the 43-year-old shipwreck at Navagio Beach, is at risk of being washed away.
Recent Instagram posts revealed the significant deterioration of the vessel over the past ten years.
Residents and tourism operators are calling on authorities to intervene as soon as possible with the vessel, emphasising its significance for the island’s income, as reported by Euronews.
In addition, some have willingly offered to take charge of and financially support the preservation of this shipwreck.
The Zakynthos municipality now wants to manage the shipwreck and the restoration of damages.
The mayor of Zakynthos, Giorgos Stasinopoulos, and MP Dionysis Aktypis are urging the Greek Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Economy and Finance to step in and protect the site.
Despite being a famous Instagram destination on Zakynthos Island, the 43-year-old shipwreck on Navagio Beach is also known for some incidents that happened years ago.
In March last year, the Greek government extended the ban on entering “Navigo” beach in Zakynthos. Such a decision followed an inspection by the country’s Anti-Seismic Planning and Protection Organization (OASP) regarding seismic activity and landslide phenomena.
In September 2022, the site was closed after a landslide was reported due to a 5.4 magnitude earthquake. However, tourists were still allowed to visit this famous attraction by water. Entering the sand or swimming near the ruins was strictly prohibited.
Furthermore, in 2018, seven people, including two children, were hurt when a 200-meter-high rock collapsed on this beach. The most serious injury so far was a spinal fracture suffered by a 34-year-old Czech woman.
Navagio Beach got this name after a strong storm that led to the grounding of the Panagiotis ship in October 1980.
Back then, it was believed that the ship was smuggling cigarettes and alcohol. As a result, the ship’s captain and several crew members were arrested, but the court later acquitted them of all charges.
After this incident, locals feared it would ruin the beach and the island’s reputation. However, this beach has become a massive tourist attraction on everyone’s social media.
Zakynthos continues to be a favourite destination among international tourists. Last year, Austrian nationals expressed a higher interest in visiting Greek Islands, and Zakynthos was among them.
In order to meet the demand, earlier that year, Austrian Airlines announced the launch of direct flights to 21 destinations in Greece, including Zakynthos. Furthermore, last year, Zakynthos and other Greek Islands were among the top holiday destinations for Irish tourists.
