A fine was imposed on each of the two Greek-Canadians who went hiking in the wider area of the Samaria Gorge on Saturday and got lost, prompting a major rescue operation.
Specifically, an administrative fine of 300 euros was imposed, according to ERT Chania, by the Investigative Department of the Fire Service on each of the two 25-year-old Greek-Canadians, for whom a major rescue operation was set up with the assistance of a Puma helicopter of the Air Force, a Navy helicopter, Fire and Ambulances Services to rescue them from a difficult place in the gorge.
This is the implementation of the Joint Ministerial Decision of 2022 par. 4, which concerns violations of the prohibitions of passage in canyons, forests, etc., when adverse weather conditions prevail.
It is worth noting that the two young men ignored the ban on crossing due to the heat, starting the dangerous hike on Saturday, bypassing the normal path from Xyloskalo to the gorge, and following the path to Gigilo, given the ban. At one point, they wanted to leave the path and go down to see, as they said, the river, resulting in their lives being in danger.