A German tourist is in critical condition after being attacked by a pack of dogs while hiking in northern Greece, authorities said.
The 60-year-old woman was walking with her husband and a friend on Wednesday afternoon near the town of Litochoro, in the Pieria region near Mount Olympus, when the attack occurred.
She suffered multiple bite wounds to her face, head and body and required emergency surgery. Doctors at the General Hospital of Katerini admitted her to the intensive care unit, where she remains in extremely serious condition.
Attack during hiking trip
The incident took place in an area near the Litochoro landfill site, where the group had been hiking.
According to local reports, the woman was suddenly attacked by a group of dogs, which left her with severe injuries across her body.
Emergency services transported her to the hospital, where medical teams performed surgery before placing her under intensive care.
Local official arrested
Following the attack, authorities arrested the deputy mayor responsible for animal welfare in the municipality of Dion–Olympus.
Prosecutors charged the official with violating animal welfare legislation and causing bodily harm through negligence.
Stray animal management under scrutiny
The municipality of Dion–Olympus regularly receives state funding for programs aimed at managing stray animals in the area.
Several animal welfare organizations also operate locally. However, despite these efforts, the attack has raised questions about the effectiveness of existing measures to control stray dog populations and prevent similar incidents.