The picturesque Greek island of Rhodes is battling a devastating wildfire that has been raging for five days, leading authorities to order the evacuation of four locations, including two popular seaside resorts. The intensity of the flames and the perilous conditions have forced the safe evacuation of around 2,000 people, including tourists.
Yannis Artopios, the fire department spokesman, confirmed on July 22 that the hotels and rental homes affected by the evacuation represented less than 10% of the island's total tourist accommodations. The evacuation was carried out smoothly without any incidents, ensuring the safety of all visitors.
The evacuation efforts were aided by three coast guard vessels, an army lifeboat, a special forces inflatable craft, and an impressive fleet of 30 private sailboats. To accommodate the evacuees, the private passenger shipping company Blue Star offered one of its ships.
"Care has been taken to accommodate all those that needed to be taken away from the stricken areas," Artopios stated, highlighting the coordinated efforts to ensure everyone's safety.
Initially, the wildfire had been contained to the mountainous center of the island. However, with the combination of strong winds, scorching temperatures, and dry conditions, the fire rapidly spread toward the eastern coast on July 22. Local media reported that the fire had reached three hotels, but thankfully, their occupants had already been evacuated.
More than 200 firefighters, supported by 40 fire engines, three planes, and five helicopters, are relentlessly battling the flames on the ground. Assistance from international allies has also been mobilized, with 31 firefighters from Slovakia joining the firefighting efforts along with five fire engines.
The main front of the wildfire resembles a triangle, with two points dangerously close to the sea and one extending deep into the mountains. Each side of this fiery triangle is estimated to be more than 10 kilometers long on the maps.
Sadly, the Rhodes wildfire is not an isolated incident in Greece. Yannis Artopios reported that the country is contending with several active wildfires. The situation is particularly concerning near Athens and Sparta, where fires have been reported, albeit showing signs of subsiding.
The harsh conditions, including temperatures expected to reach a scorching 45 degrees Celsius on July 23, coupled with low humidity below 15%, indicate that the danger is far from over. Authorities fear that more wildfires could break out if preventive measures are not diligently enforced.
To address the severity of the wildfire risk, the fire department has designated extensive regions, such as the eastern part of the mainland, the islands of Evia and Rhodes, and large parts of the southwest, as Category 5, signifying the highest risk of fire outbreaks. Another significant portion of Greece has been classified as Category 4, indicating a very high risk.
Despite a brief respite in the heat wave expected on July 24, meteorologists have warned that the searing temperatures will resume on July 25 and may persist until at least July 28.
Given the scale and ferocity of the wildfires, firefighting forces from eight European Union countries have already deployed or are on their way to assist. Additionally, Israel, Jordan, and Turkey have sent reinforcements, particularly aerial equipment, to bolster the firefighting efforts.
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