A landslide has caused serious disruption for thousands of visitors to Fira, the capital of Santorini, after blocking the footpath that connects the town to the Old Port, one of the main routes used by cruise ship passengers.

The landslide struck two days ago near a building situated along the route, and the path has now been closed for a third consecutive day. The closure has placed significant strain on the town’s cable car, as visitors trying to reach the Old Port have few alternative options available to them.

The problem has become particularly acute over the past two days, with large numbers of cruise passengers arriving in Fira. With the footpath out of action, a substantial share of tourist traffic has been forced onto the cable car instead, resulting in long queues and severe overcrowding.

Meanwhile, according to reports, a dispute has arisen over who in Santorini bears responsibility for clearing the earth and debris left by the landslide. Local residents say the municipality has placed the blame on a nearby hotel business, meaning a municipal crew has yet to begin restoring the path.

Perhaps most notably, witnesses on the island report that the clean-up effort has instead been driven by donkey handlers, who work professionally along the route offering rides to tourists. They have been attempting on their own initiative to clear debris and reopen the path to visitors. “If they don’t do it, nobody will clear it,” one island resident told Proto Thema.

The situation has raised questions given that this is one of Santorini’s busiest spots, particularly during the summer months, when thousands of cruise passengers disembark daily at the Old Port and make their way up to Fira.

The key question now is when the clean-up will be completed, once the necessary safety inspection of the route has taken place, so that the path can reopen and ease the pressure on the cable car.