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21 July 2023
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Wildfires on Greek island of Rhodes spark biggest evacuation in country's history
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A government official has said that 19 000 people had been moved from their homes and hotels after fires broke out last week on the Greek island of Rhodes, with a Greek police spokesperson calling it "the biggest fire evacuation ever in Greece". The wildfire, which has now burned for over six days, forced thousands of tourists and island residents to shelter in schools and indoor stadiums on Sunday, 23 July 2023, after they were evacuated from coastal villages and resorts.
Fire brigade spokesman, Yannis Artopios, said that more than 200 fire fighters and 40 fire engines were operating on the ground, assisted by three planes and five helicopters. The force includes 31 fire fighters from Slovakia, with five fire engines.
The main front of the fire is a triangle, with two of its points near the sea and one in the mountains. On maps, each side of the triangle appears more than 10 kilometres long.
The wildfire in Rhodes was just one, the most dangerous, of several active across Greece, Artopios said.
Fire fighting forces from eight European Union countries are either operating or due to arrive soon, Artopios said. Israel, Jordan and Turkey have also sent reinforcements, mostly aerial equipment.
Coastguard vessels and dozens of private boats carried more than 2 000 tourists from beaches on Saturday after the wildfire was fanned by strong winds and rekindled along the southeastern part of island popular for beaches and ancient ruins. Many fled their hotels when huge flames reached the seaside villages of Kiotari, Gennadi, Pefki, Lindos, Lardos and Kalathos. Large groups gathered in the streets under a smoke-filled red sky waiting to be taken to safety.
"We have between 4 000 and 5 000 people now accommodated at different structures," Thanasis Virinis, a vice mayor of Rhodes told Mega television on Sunday, calling for donations of essentials such as mattresses and bedding.
The fire northwest of Athens and one near Sparta were subsiding, Artopios said, although the conditions, including temperatures set to reach 45 degrees Celsius on Sunday and low humidity (below 15 percent), mean that the danger isn't over and more wildfires might break out.
The fire department has designated almost the whole eastern part of the mainland, plus the islands of Evia and Rhodes as well as large swaths of the southwest, as Category 5, the highest for the risk of fire outbreaks Sunday. A further chunk of Greece has been designated Category 4, very high risk.
There will be a brief respite in the heat wave on Monday, but it will resume on Tuesday and could last until at least Friday, meteorologists have warned.
Volunteers fought to extinguish a blaze that blackened the hillside and charred buildings near Lindos, one of the island's most-visited sites and famed for an acropolis perched on a massive rock within medieval walls.
Heatwaves in Europe could continue until August
Civil protection has warned of a very high risk of wildfires on Sunday in almost half of Greece, where temperatures were expected to hit 45 Celsius. Heatwaves across Southern Europe and many parts of the world could last until August.
Fires are common in Greece but hotter, drier and windy summers have brought more of them in recent years. Climate change means heatwaves will become more frequent, an advisor to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Saturday.
On Rhodes, the evacuees, including residents from the villages, were housed at hotels, indoor stadiums, conference centres and school buildings, Artopoios told Skai radio. "They have been given food, water and medical help," he said, adding that the Greek foreign ministry will assist foreigners who want to leave the country at the Rhodes airport.
Fire fighters, backed by aircraft dropping water, battled three fronts on Sunday, setting up firebreaks to prevent flames from spreading to a dense forest or threatening more residential areas.
The fire has scorched swaths of dense forest since breaking out in a mountainous area on Tuesday. It damaged at least three hotels in the seaside village of Kiotari on Saturday, according to the Athens News Agency.
Sources Reuters, Euro News, Al Jazeera, SBS News, BBC News
Fire brigade spokesman, Yannis Artopios, said that more than 200 fire fighters and 40 fire engines were operating on the ground, assisted by three planes and five helicopters. The force includes 31 fire fighters from Slovakia, with five fire engines.
The main front of the fire is a triangle, with two of its points near the sea and one in the mountains. On maps, each side of the triangle appears more than 10 kilometres long.
The wildfire in Rhodes was just one, the most dangerous, of several active across Greece, Artopios said.
Fire fighting forces from eight European Union countries are either operating or due to arrive soon, Artopios said. Israel, Jordan and Turkey have also sent reinforcements, mostly aerial equipment.
Coastguard vessels and dozens of private boats carried more than 2 000 tourists from beaches on Saturday after the wildfire was fanned by strong winds and rekindled along the southeastern part of island popular for beaches and ancient ruins. Many fled their hotels when huge flames reached the seaside villages of Kiotari, Gennadi, Pefki, Lindos, Lardos and Kalathos. Large groups gathered in the streets under a smoke-filled red sky waiting to be taken to safety.
"We have between 4 000 and 5 000 people now accommodated at different structures," Thanasis Virinis, a vice mayor of Rhodes told Mega television on Sunday, calling for donations of essentials such as mattresses and bedding.
The fire northwest of Athens and one near Sparta were subsiding, Artopios said, although the conditions, including temperatures set to reach 45 degrees Celsius on Sunday and low humidity (below 15 percent), mean that the danger isn't over and more wildfires might break out.
The fire department has designated almost the whole eastern part of the mainland, plus the islands of Evia and Rhodes as well as large swaths of the southwest, as Category 5, the highest for the risk of fire outbreaks Sunday. A further chunk of Greece has been designated Category 4, very high risk.
There will be a brief respite in the heat wave on Monday, but it will resume on Tuesday and could last until at least Friday, meteorologists have warned.
Volunteers fought to extinguish a blaze that blackened the hillside and charred buildings near Lindos, one of the island's most-visited sites and famed for an acropolis perched on a massive rock within medieval walls.
Heatwaves in Europe could continue until August
Civil protection has warned of a very high risk of wildfires on Sunday in almost half of Greece, where temperatures were expected to hit 45 Celsius. Heatwaves across Southern Europe and many parts of the world could last until August.
Fires are common in Greece but hotter, drier and windy summers have brought more of them in recent years. Climate change means heatwaves will become more frequent, an advisor to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) said on Saturday.
On Rhodes, the evacuees, including residents from the villages, were housed at hotels, indoor stadiums, conference centres and school buildings, Artopoios told Skai radio. "They have been given food, water and medical help," he said, adding that the Greek foreign ministry will assist foreigners who want to leave the country at the Rhodes airport.
Fire fighters, backed by aircraft dropping water, battled three fronts on Sunday, setting up firebreaks to prevent flames from spreading to a dense forest or threatening more residential areas.
The fire has scorched swaths of dense forest since breaking out in a mountainous area on Tuesday. It damaged at least three hotels in the seaside village of Kiotari on Saturday, according to the Athens News Agency.
Sources Reuters, Euro News, Al Jazeera, SBS News, BBC News
