Authorities in the central Greek city of Volos have begun collecting hundreds of thousands of dead fish that washed into a tourist port this week. The fish, displaced from their freshwater habitats during flooding last year, created a thick layer of carcasses across the port, emitting a strong odor that alarmed residents and officials.

The floating fish carcasses, stretching for kilometers, have created a strong stench that has reached the Pagasetic Gulf, a popular destination for holiday homes.

“It spans kilometers,” city council member Stelios Limnios told Reuters. “It’s not just along the coast, but also in the center of the Pagasetic Gulf,” he said, referring to the area offshore Volos whose coast is lined with holiday homes.

On Wednesday, trawlers were deployed to collect the fish, which were then transported by trucks. Authorities report that over 40 tonnes of fish have been collected in the last 24 hours.

Volos Mayor Achilleas Beos described the smell as unbearable. During a press conference on Wednesday, he blamed the government for failing to address the issue before it reached his city. He expressed concerns that the situation could lead to an environmental disaster for other species in the area.

Experts attribute the fish deaths to last year’s historic floods, which inundated the Thessaly plane, including rivers and lakes. They point out that a protective net was not installed at the river mouth leading into Volos, allowing the fish to enter the saltwater environment, which ultimately killed them.

“They didn’t do the obvious, to put a protective net,” Mayor Beos said, referring to government services.

The environment ministry has not responded to requests for comment. Local prosecutors have initiated an investigation.

This disaster is the latest consequence of extreme weather events in Greece, which scientists link to climate change. These events include higher temperatures and erratic rainfall, leading to wildfires and flooding.

Dimosthenis Bakoyiannis, 33, owner of a beach restaurant 10 km (6 miles) from Volos, reports an 80% drop in his business this summer due to fewer tourists visiting after the flooding.

“Closing the barrier now doesn’t help,” he said. “Now it’s too late, the tourist season is over.”