Greek Ski Center Shuts Down As Snow Tops Eight Meters

The famous Falakro ski resort in Northern Greece’s Drama region was forced to close on Friday due to safety reasons from the recent excessive snowfall, which in some areas has reached 8 meters (24 feet) in height.
The enormous volume of snow currently atop Falakro Mountain poses a clear safety threat to visitors, according to the local authorities.
Christos Georgitsopoulos, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace regional adviser, noted that “the condition is difficult due to the great volume of snow that has amassed on the mountain’s slopes.” The official, who is in charge of the area where the ski mountain is located, added that the situation has worsened with the strong winds and extremely low temperatures prevailing in the area.
As a result of all these factors, there is a greatly-increased chance of avalanches occurring and the overall safety of skiers cannot be guaranteed.
”As water from the melted snow creates massive holes within the snow, huge volumes of snow are on the verge of collapsing,” Georgitsopoulos explained to the state-run AMNA news agency.
According to local residents, the snow has reached the height of 8 meters or even more in some areas, causing severe problems in the region’s electrical grid and delivery.
The road to the ski resort was finally cleared on Monday but the area cannot welcome any guests, as the greater Falakro area is considered unsafe for travelers or skiers at the present time.
Georgitsopoulos also emphasized that regional authorities are in constant contact with the organizations responsible for the resort’s operation. If necessary, a crew from Italy specializing in triggering artificial avalanches will come to the mountain and attempt to lessen the dangerous snowload.
Local authorities and skiers are living in hope that the famous ski resort will be able to reopen and provide a safe recreational experience in a few days’ time.