Lake Plastira shipwreck tragedy marks 67th anniversary

The 67th anniversary of a fatal shipwreck in Lake Plastira is being observed, marking a tragedy that occurred in December 1959. The accident claimed the lives of 20 people, most of whom were workers from Neochori involved in the construction of the lake.

Following the completion of the Tavropos dam, the flooding of the Nevropolis plateau created a new landscape that submerged roads and pastures. To maintain connections between villages and Karditsa, a local resident began operating a boat service between Tsardaki and Neochori. On December 5, 1959, a boat carrying 20 individuals attempting to reach their homes for the feast of Saint Nicholas sank, resulting in all passengers perishing.

Giorgos Karantonis, an educator and president of the Cultural Association of Young Neochori, has presented new research into the event. Using previously unknown photographic evidence and testimonies, Karantonis aims to preserve the collective memory of the incident.