Corfu

The owner of a horse that collapsed and died while pulling a tourist carriage through a Corfu street has been arrested and fined 30,000 euros, according to a report by state broadcaster ERT.

The animal died on a public road around noon on Thursday as residents and visitors looked on.

Police in Corfu have launched a preliminary investigation into the death of a horse that was pulling a tourist carriage through the island's main town.

The animal collapsed and died on a public road around noon as residents and visitors looked on, according to a report by state broadcaster ERT.

A fire has broken out on Monday at the church of St. George in the Old Fort of Corfu. The fire is currently burning through the roof of the church and no injuries have been announced.

There are no adverse winds in the area but the operation to put the fire out is deemed extremely difficult. There are currently eight Hellenic Fire Service vehicles on scene to tackle the blaze.

European nationals are showing a huge interest this year in rural Greek realty, led by pensioners and those approaching retirement, estate agents have told Kathimerini, adding that they often make their acquisitions even before the completion of properties' construction.

Concern has been raised about purple jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca) resurfacing in several areas of the country and particularly in the northern Ionian Sea. 

However, it is considered premature for conclusions regarding the summer.

According to the iNaturalist Jellyfish of Greece digital platform, the species with an unpleasant sting has been spotted north and east of Corfu.

Passenger traffic at the 14 largest airports outside of Athens - operated by Fraport Greece - showed a slight decrease in the first quarter of this year compared to the corresponding period in 2019.

Greek political leaders are continuing their campaign tours ahead of the May 21 elections.

Political leaders have attended Good Friday ceremonies and the Epitaphios processions.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accompanied by his family, attended the ceremonies on Tinos.

Main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras participated in the ceremonies in a village on Corfu, where he is spending Easter with his family.

The annual arrival of the Holy Light in Athens will take place on Holy Saturday (April 15) aboard a special flight conducted by Aegean Airlines from Jerusalem. It will later be shared by airplane with other major cities ahead of church easter services at midnight that day.

The launch of the tourism season on the island of Corfu was inaugurated on Sunday, March 26 with an easyJet flight from Belfast that landed at Ioannis Kapodistrias Airport at about 11.30 a.m.

Nine flights followed, starting at 3 p.m. from the UK, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Belgium.