Greek Health Ministry bans swimming at numerous Attica beaches
The Deputy Minister of Health, Irini Agapidaki, issued a circular prohibiting swimming in specific coastal areas of the Attica region because water quality does not meet the required safety standards. The ban covers all ports, permanent moorings, shipyards and ship‑breaking sites, the entire stretch from the Port of Piraeus to Perama, and the shoreline from Skaramagas to Aspropyrgos. It also includes the ports of Skaftaki, the St. Themistocles coastal area, the dock of the Naval Academy, and a 100‑metre radius around the MIRAMARE centre. Additional exclusion zones are defined within 50 metres of storm‑water outfalls and 200 metres of wastewater‑treatment plant discharges, as well as areas near the Lavrio harbour, Rafina, New Makrī, Marathon and the Asopos river mouth. The circular excludes the official swimming area of KEDA/Z. Local environmental‑health and sanitary inspection services are instructed to cooperate with municipalities, port authorities and relevant agencies to install clear signage and enforce preventive measures.
Entities: Attica · Attica Region · Eirini Agapidaki · Greek Ministry of Health · Irini Agapidaki · KEDA/Z · KEDA/Z swimming area · Port of Piraeus
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] Deputy Health Minister Eirini Agapidaki issued a circular prohibiting swimming at certain Attica coastal areas. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The swimming area of KEDA/Z is excluded from the ban. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The ban covers the area from Skaramagkas to Aspropyrgos beach. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The ban covers the stretch from the Port of Piraeus to Perama. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Specific ports listed as prohibited include Skafaki, Stavrou of the Themistocles coastal area, the Dokimon School harbour, and an area within 100 m of the Miramare centre. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Local authorities must install prohibition signs at the affected sites. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The ban applies to all ports, permanent anchorage points, shipyards and ship‑disassembly yards. (All articles)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Areas within 50 m of storm‑water pipe outfalls and within 200 m of wastewater‑treatment plant outflows are prohibited for swimming. (All articles)