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The famous “SHIPWRECK cove” has come under controversy once again, not only among residents but visitors to our Island, this time in regards to its safety.
This morning photographs that were shown on social media, brought to light the subject as to just how safe the “Navagio” as it is known to the locals, is?
Zakynthos Informer has often asked our visitors to take care whilst visiting the viewing point and platform to the most visited attraction. Queues on a dangerous cliff just for a selfie have led to tragic endings for some.
The area is very well known for its rugged beauty, something that attracts visitors worldwide, however, rising steep cliffs with sheer drops to the sea, ideal for that perfect photo, is also a concoction for disaster. In 2016 and 2017, three tourists, in their attempt to be photographed, fell into the void. Unfortunately, even today, there is no protection for those who visit the area and quite bluntly, you are visiting the area at your own risk.
During the summer months, the road to the shipwreck viewing point was closed, this was due to the Very High-Risk fire alerts our Island was experiencing at the time. We remind you that the road to the viewing point is one way in and is the same way out. Thus being an extreme fire trap if there were to be a fire.
Many complaining that the road was closed, even forcing the locals to demand that something should be done in regards to keeping the area open to the public. However, at what cost?
We all know that Zakynthos relies heavily on tourism and after all, the shipwreck is the second most visited area in Greece, after the Parthenon, meaning it brings in revenue for all of us. However, with the last few years with no improvements on safety issues and of course the deaths of those that linger over our heads we have just got to wonder, should we be promoting it freely to visit?
After the closing of the road this year due to fire alerts, Zakynthos Informer has still not seen any “Official” document saying that it is open and of course that it is now safe to visit. It seems no one really wants to take responsibility. We tried to get in contact with some of our authorities and ask whether it was “officially” open, as it seemed that quite a lot of tourists were not being stopped to view the ship from above. We were told to ask one department again from that department another and finally, we received a telephone number to contact the person who, “would” know. The telephone number is a public office number that just continually rang with no answer.
We did however, get an answer via media from an authority within the region and the answer was; “It is open but you can not go down to the area where the flag is”.
Obviously with such vague answers as to whether we should inform our guests to visit the “shipwreck” from above or not, we decided that we could only advise our visitors that they take the trip at their own risk.
This morning’s photographs however are a cause of concern. Some tourists it seems are willing to take their life into their own hands and venture towards the doors of death. This might seem way too exaggerated but it has not been the first time where tourists have ventured out onto the cliffs. We remind you only just recently, of a video showing a twenty-two-year-old American girl falling to her death after she slipped whilst taking a selfie. Much to the horror of tourists bathing below the young girl was unable to be saved.
Due to the incident, Zakynthos was under fire by the media not just locally but worldwide and of course finger-pointing as to whom is responsible for such neglect was being fired left right and centre.
As a Zakynthian, I am proud of our Island however, it saddens me to see such neglect. Not only from some of our authorities but neglect from some of our visitors. In all honesty, I just hope that the neglect will not lead to another tragedy but until then Zakynthos Informer will warn again and again, “ go visit the “shipwreck” at your own risk!”
You might like to read:-
Proposals from Zakynthos Council for the shipwreck
Photos:- Gina Kolivas & Zakynthos Informer archives
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