Last of stranded visitors leave Samothrace after boat service is restored

Delays in replacing the single ferry linking Samothrace with the mainland in northern Greece were compounded by strong winds which prevented substitute ferries from sailing, further raising the ire of visitors.

The island's mayor, Thanassis Vitsas, told Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) that "the boat connection has been restored at this point, and the market is being supplied normally as of Wednesday afternoon, while the last visitors have left." However, he expressed reservations about the long-term aspect of the solution.

He said there was a brief incident by people who said they should not have to pay for a return ticket after the trouble they went through, but it did not persist.

Asked about the effectiveness of the local effort to stranded visitors, the mayor told ANA that "we were in touch with people who had run out of money, and the measures were effective in those cases," adding that residents took in families and fed them while the town hall and church also helped.

He added that "the repercussions are huge" on the economy and image of the island, as it saw "many cancellations. While the issue reached a peak on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, 50 pct of the reservations were cancelled on Saturday."