Greece Battles Repeated Heat Waves Amid Escalating Wildfire Evacuations

A relentless third heat wave has propelled temperatures in Greece to surpass 40 C (104 F) this Tuesday, compounding issues with uncontrolled wildfires that have necessitated continuous evacuations throughout the night over the past few days.

Recent evacuation directives have been enforced on the islands of Corfu and Evia. Concurrently, a wildfire on the island of Rhodes intensifies its relentless inland march, setting ablaze vast tracts of mountainous forest areas, including a portion of a protected nature reserve.

Residents, fraught with desperation and armed with wet towels draped around their necks to fend off the extreme heat, have resorted to using shovels to stave off encroaching flames threatening their homes. Firefighting aircrafts, including planes and helicopters, resumed their water dropping operations at dawn.

Reports indicate that successive evacuations have involved over 20,000 individuals on the island, predominantly tourists. The evacuation procedures escalated over the past weekend when a fire surged through two southeastern coastal regions of Rhodes.

In response to the escalating crisis, the European Union has dispatched a contingent of 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles, and seven aircraft from 10 member nations. Assistance has also been extended from non-EU nations, including Turkey, Israel, and Egypt.

Vassilis Kikilias, the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, addressed the issue stating, “For the 12th consecutive day, we are contending nonstop with several wildfire fronts under extreme heat and gusty winds… The Greek Fire Service has been combating over 500 fires, averaging more than 50 a day.”

In the capital city of Athens, authorities have reinstated afternoon shutdowns at the historic Acropolis as part of their comprehensive strategy to mitigate the effects of the sweltering heat.

EU officials have attributed the rising frequency and severity of wildfires across Europe to climate change. They note that 2022 marked the second-most destructive year for wildfire damage, superseded only by 2017.

For ongoing coverage of climate-related issues, visit https://bigbignews.net/climate-and-environment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Greece wildfires