A serious incident was recorded on Thursday morning (September 25) along the southern coast of Crete, where four sperm whales (physeter macrocephalus) were found stranded — three dead and one alive. The operations involved HCMR, the “ARION” marine mammal rescue organization, and local authorities.

According to neakriti.gr, an alarm was raised early Thursday in the municipalities of Viannos and Ierapetra, after several sperm whales (ziphiids) were washed ashore from the South Cretan Sea.

Locals and visitors discovered a dead whale on the coast of Keratokampos. Members of the Cultural Association of Keratokampos “I Vigla” rushed to notify the authorities and HCMR.

The director of HCMR stressed that the issue does not fall under the Aquarium’s jurisdiction, and scientists contacted ARION. A representative confirmed that there were four whales in total — three dead and one alive.

For the dead whale that was transported from Kalikovrechtis to Myrtos, an operation was organized with scientists and veterinarian Michalis Spyridakis from Ierapetra to determine the causes of death.

All incidents occurred between Keratokampos (Viannos) and Myrtos (Ierapetra). The Municipality of Viannos reacted immediately, burying a six-meter whale in a specially prepared pit. The Municipality of Ierapetra took responsibility for another whale found in Kalikovrechtis.

Veterinarian Michalis Spyridakis collected samples from the internal organs of the whale at Myrtos beach for laboratory analysis, while at the same time a third dead whale was located along the Viannos coastline.