Residents of the Greek island of Aegina have been facing a water crisis for several days now, as their homes have been left without drinkable water. Authorities in Athens revealed that an undersea pipeline from the mainland was allegedly sabotaged, causing this disruption.

Officials believe that an explosive device was used to damage the 12-kilometer-long pipeline, halting the supply of fresh water. Repair efforts are expected to stretch over several weeks. Nikos Hardalias, the regional governor of Greater Athens, stated that coast guard divers have identified the damaged section.

There are suspicions that this sabotage might be linked to competition among private entities vying to supply water to the nearby islands of Athens. Hardalias, who personally inspected the damage site on Monday, has called for a legal investigation into the incident.

“Our top priority is to enhance security measures to prevent such sabotage from happening again to this vital infrastructure,” he emphasized.

Aegina, a favored weekend getaway for Athenians, sits 25 kilometers southwest of Piraeus, the primary port of the Greek capital. The island is home to approximately 13,000 residents year-round.