Volos, a port city in Greece, is grappling with an environmental disaster as tons of dead fish line its coast.

Experts attribute this massive die-off to historic flooding in the Thessaly region last year, which forced freshwater fish into saltwater where they could not survive.

The flooding was exacerbated by Storm Daniel in September 2023, following a period of extreme heat and drought, which dramatically altered water levels.

Mayor Achilleas Beos described the situation as a significant ecological catastrophe, with the water surface largely obscured by dead fish.

In a single day, officials removed 57 tons of dead fish from the beaches near the city, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Stelios Limnios, a municipal council member, reported that the dead fish extended for kilometers along the coast and into the center of the gulf.

As the water levels receded, many freshwater fish ended up in the port of Volos, where they died due to the differing salinity levels.

Georgia Adeilini, the general prosecutor of Greece, has called for an investigation into possible criminal negligence related to the fish die-off.

Local businesses, particularly those reliant on tourism, are suffering from the foul odor and loss of customers during the peak summer season.

The local government has already closed six beaches due to pollution concerns, anticipating severe repercussions for public health and tourism.

The floods caused nearby Lake Karla, which had been drained in 1962, to swell significantly, leading to the displacement of fish into the sea.

Tourism in the area has reportedly declined by 80 percent since the floods last year, further impacting local businesses.