The island of Rhodes is experiencing a serious situation as thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and hotels due to ongoing fires. Private boats are assisting the Greek coastguard in rescuing people from the beaches on the eastern side of the island. Greek navy vessels are also en route to aid in the evacuation efforts. The area affected is a popular tourist destination, adding to the complexity of the situation.
According to the deputy fire chief of Greece, the fires on Rhodes are presenting the most challenging situation for their fire service at the moment. Currently, there are five helicopters and 173 firefighters operating in the area. Unfortunately, the fires have caused damage to at least three hotels in the Kiotari region.
The situation has resulted in some harrowing accounts from those impacted. One British woman shared her experience of being evacuated from her hotel along with her sister and daughter. Now, she finds herself stranded on a beach with hundreds of others in the intense heat, feeling helpless and without assistance.
The fires are causing significant disruption to tourists’ holiday plans, and the impact on local residents is also severe. Reports have emerged of ash falling onto a person’s pizza as they were eating, and some hotels had to be evacuated due to the approaching fires.
In response to the crisis, firefighters from Slovakia have arrived on the island to support the local teams in battling the wildfires. However, the situation remains challenging due to the strong winds and rapidly changing fire direction.
Adding to the difficulties, Greece is facing another intense heatwave with meteorologists warning that temperatures could reach as high as 45°C (113°F). It may turn out to be Greece’s hottest July weekend in half a century.
With the wildfires still spreading across the country, authorities are advising people to stay home, and tourist sites, including the iconic Acropolis in Athens, will be closed during the peak heat of the next two days. The situation is particularly concerning as the heatwave occurs during one of the busiest times for Greece’s tourism industry.
