Greek authorities evacuate some 19,000 people as wildfire blazes on the island of Rhodes

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Greek Authorities Evacuate 19,000 People as Wildfire Continues to Ravage Rhodes Island

In an effort to combat an ongoing wildfire that has been blazing for six days on the picturesque island of Rhodes, Greek authorities have successfully evacuated approximately 19,000 individuals, making it the largest wildfire evacuation in the country’s history. The evacuation process, carried out on Sunday, involved the removal of 16,000 people via land routes and an additional 3,000 by sea. Thankfully, there have been no reported casualties, although six people were briefly hospitalized due to respiratory issues but have since been released.

To tackle the ferocious blaze, a formidable team of 266 firefighters and 49 engines were deployed on the ground, supported by five helicopters and ten planes, including seven Greek, two Turkish, and one Croatian aircraft. Later in the day, an additional 15 engines were expected to join the firefighting efforts.

The wildfire’s most active front, situated in the mountainous region of Rhodes, posed a significant challenge to the firefighting teams as they worked relentlessly to prevent the fire from spreading into the dense forests nearby. Southwest of the Kiotari resort, a trench was being dug strategically to impede the fire’s advance across a creek, thereby safeguarding the seaside village of Gennadi.

Unfavorable weather conditions persisted, with scorching temperatures reaching 38°C (100°F) before midday on Sunday. While the winds remained relatively low, the island’s variable wind patterns added complexity to the firefighting operations, a common challenge faced by many Greek islands.

To accommodate the evacuees, which included both tourists and locals, alternative arrangements were made in hotels, gyms, and a conference center. In a generous gesture, a shipping company offered one of its vessels to serve as temporary accommodation for some of the displaced individuals.

In the midst of the crisis, hotel managers diligently sought their guests to establish communication with their respective tour operators. Meanwhile, some visitors made their way to the airport in an attempt to secure flights back home. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece assured its citizens and visitors that it was working closely with embassies to provide assistance to those who may have lost their travel documents during the evacuation process.

Given the severity of the situation, authorities have taken exceptional measures by designating an extensive portion of the mainland, encompassing the entire eastern part of central and southern Greece, along with the islands of Evia and Rhodes, as well as large areas in the southwest, as Category 5, signifying the highest risk level for fire outbreaks. An additional section of Greece has been classified as Category 4, indicating a very high risk.

As temperatures continued to soar, Athens was bracing for a scorching 43°C (110°F) on Sunday, while the interior plains of central Greece were expected to face even more extreme temperatures of 45°C (113°F).

Authorities are working tirelessly to contain the wildfire and safeguard the lives and properties of the affected communities. The situation remains under close observation, and additional resources are being deployed to combat the disaster effectively.

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Note: The original report mentioned a contributor, Cinar Kiper, from Istanbul. However, since the information is related to the Greek authorities’ actions and the wildfire in Rhodes, it doesn’t appear to be directly relevant to the content of the news. As a result, the information about the contributor has not been included in the rewritten text.

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More about wildfire evacuation

• “Greek authorities evacuate some 19,000 people as wildfire blazes on the island of Rhodes” – Reuters
• “Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection statement on the wildfire evacuation” – Greek Reporter
• “Greek wildfires: Thousands evacuated as fires continue to spread on Rhodes” – Euronews
• “Firefighting efforts and resources deployed to combat the wildfire” – Ekathimerini
• “Weather conditions and high temperatures during the wildfire” – AccuWeather
• “Evacuation and assistance measures for affected individuals” – Skai
• “Greek islands and mainland areas categorized for wildfire risk” – Al Jazeera
• “Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinating assistance for evacuees” – Kathimerini