A 60-year-old German woman tragically lost her life during a hiking expedition on Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest mountain, following a fall in a remote and rugged area of the mountain on Thursday, June 12.
According to early reports, the woman was part of a group of fellow German hikers when she fell under unclear circumstances around 1 p.m. on Thursday. The incident occurred near the area known as “Zonaria,” a steep and difficult-to-access section of the mountain.
Greek Fire Service units were immediately alerted, and a large-scale rescue operation was launched. A total of 12 firefighters from the 2nd and 8th Special Disaster Response Units (EMAK), along with local firefighters from Litochoro and volunteer rescuers, participated in the effort.
The woman was found several hours later, unresponsive. Her body was transported to the Muses Plateau, where a firefighting helicopter airlifted her to the helipad of the 24th Brigade in Litochoro. Her remains were then transferred to the local coroner for autopsy.
The operation, according to local media (ThessToday), had to extend through the night due to difficult terrain and weather conditions. Rescuers were only able to complete the mission early Friday morning, shortly before 9 a.m., when they were safely extracted.
An investigation into the circumstances of the accident is being conducted by the Litochoro Police Department.
Video from the rescue operation
