Photos from Balos, Crete, have been circulating on the Internet in recent hours, showing tourists disembarking from the boat and wading through water up to their necks to reach the beach.

As seen in the photos and videos, tourists are forced to dive into the water to approach the beach due to the absence of a floating platform that would allow smooth embarkation and disembarkation.

However, while most tourists are prepared to get wet, already wearing their swimsuits, the difficulty level is higher for the elderly, who require assistance. At the same time, local media report that the construction of the platform has been completed, and its installation is expected to take place next Monday.

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These were published on the Facebook page, e-kissamos, with the group’s manager, Stavros Karefyllakis, noting that the decision to build the floating platform was taken a month ago and that it is only a matter of time before the problem is solved.

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The media of Chania who remember Kissamos only when they read something in the Kissamian social media should relax a little because they did not achieve any “success” yesterday exclusively, nor did the ministry change its decision yesterday.

This decision has been taken a month ago and it is only a matter of time before the problem is solved. That time in Kissamos is passing slowly is another matter, which is why we continue to publish. Below is the announcement from a month ago

New change in the maritime approach to Balos.

Using a floating platform until floating moorings (large buoys) and moorings are in place, visitors to Balos will be allowed to disembark.

This is stipulated in the decision of the Ministry of Environment published in the Government Gazette on Tuesday (Issue D’ 381/11.06.2024 ).

Essentially, the Ministry of Environment adopts the proposal of the Municipality of Kissamos so that the disembarkation of all passengers will be on the floating platform (until this year one company used the floating platform and from now on they will all use it) until the moorings are installed.

In particular, the ministerial decision stipulates that “the approach, stopping (anchoring) and staying by floating means in the sea area near the beach, for taking a sea bath of tourists. The stopping (anchoring) and staying in the sea area by motorised (inboard and outboard) watercraft shall be carried out only by mooring to the provided floating moorings. Until the adoption of the Management Plan and the regulation of universal accessibility issues, the approach of visitors from floating means to the beach will be carried out using a floating platform. Until the moorings are in place, anchoring is allowed outside the Poseidonia meadows (priority habitat)”.

“I want to report the unacceptable situation with the disembarkation and embarkation of the large 800-900 passenger ship in Balo. People have to walk in water up to their necks to get to the edge of the sea. Older people are unable to walk. Most stayed on the boat out of fear. Only about 40 people got off and they all came back angry and frustrated,” a woman told zarpanews.gr, whose children came from America with their guests and visited the area last week.