An unexploded munition discovered in the sea area off Stelida triggered an immediate response by Greek authorities on Thursday morning, February 19, 2026, near the island of Naxos in Greece. Following the discovery, officials quickly activated naval disposal protocols and secured the surrounding coastal zone to protect residents, visitors and maritime traffic.
A specialized Mine Countermeasures Unit of the Hellenic Navy led the early-morning operation and safely removed and neutralized the device under controlled conditions.
Throughout the intervention, authorities enforced strict safety measures to minimize risk and maintain full operational oversight. As a result, the operation proceeded without disruption or public safety incidents.
Greece imposes temporary restrictions at Naxos port following sea munition discovery
As a precaution, authorities temporarily blocked off access to the Tourist Marina at the Port of Naxos. Beginning at 07:00 a.m. and continuing until the procedure concluded, officials prohibited pedestrian and vehicle movement within the marina area.
In addition, port authorities suspended vessel departures and arrivals and restricted ship movement in nearby waters while naval teams carried out the disposal process. Once the unit completed the mission and declared the area safe, normal port operations resumed without incident.
Naxos named top global destination for 2026
At the same time, Naxos is gaining international attention for a very different reason. The island ranks first on a global list of top travel destinations for 2026, based on an evaluation linked to the World Travel Market in London, one of the tourism industry’s most influential annual gatherings.
According to the ranking, Naxos stands out as a leading choice for travelers seeking natural beauty, cultural authenticity, and traditional island character.
Travel blogger Marta Ostoya, widely described as one of the most influential digital travel creators, shaped the results through on-the-ground research and analysis of travel trends presented at World Travel Market (WTM) in London. Drawing on her experience across forty countries, she published the findings on her blog Where Life is Great, which reaches hundreds of thousands of couples and travel-focused readers.
Overall, the 2026 list places Naxos in first position, followed by Warsaw in Poland, Costa Brava in Spain, Sicily in Italy, Riviera Nayarit in Mexico, Bahia in Brazil, Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, Okinawa in Japan and Iceland.