Massive Wildfire Forces Thousands to Evacuate Rhodes, Greece: CNN News
A large wildfire is rapidly spreading across the Greek island of Rhodes, prompting the largest evacuation effort in the country’s history. Thousands of tourists were forced to flee their hotels as Greek officials deemed the situation dire and dangerous. Chaotic scenes unfolded as people were instructed to leave immediately, some having to find their own means of transportation or leaving on foot.
The wildfire, which originated on Tuesday, is currently burning in the central and south parts of Rhodes, which is a popular destination among holidaymakers. This is just one of several blazes in Greece, as the country is currently experiencing a scorching heat wave that experts believe will become their longest on record.
Amy Leyden, a British tourist, recounted the terrifying experience, saying that she and her family were warned to leave their hotel immediately or risk not making it out. “It was just terrifying,” she told Sky News. “We’ve got our 11-year-old daughter with us and we were walking down the road at two o’clock in the morning and the fire was catching up with us.”
Cedric Guisset, a Belgian tourist, also faced a similar situation, where he had nowhere to go. He explained that even though they informed the hotel about the evacuation orders they received on their phones, the staff was unaware of it. “We really just took our identity cards, water, and something to cover our faces and heads,” he told a public radio station.
According to the Greek government, nearly 19,000 people have been evacuated from Rhodes since Saturday. At least 12 hotels have been emptied. The government referred to the evacuation effort as the largest in Greek history, with 16,000 people transported by land and 3,000 by sea.
Currently, firefighters are focusing on three active fronts in the central and south parts of the island. The blaze is nearing areas like Kiotari and Lardos, which are close to the famous Lindos archaeological site. However, the site has yet to face any immediate threats.
To accommodate evacuees, hotels, schools, sports centers, and conference centers in safe parts of the island have been activated. The Greek foreign ministry plans to establish a dedicated helpdesk to assist tourists in returning to their respective countries.
Amidst the ongoing wildfires, national air carriers such as Jet2 and holiday group TUI have canceled flights and packages to Rhodes. Moreover, the Ministry of Civil Protection has issued a red alert for wildfires in 13 departments, including the one housing the capital city of Athens.
Concerns over the heat wave’s impact and the extreme weather are rising. Research at the National Observatory of Athens predicts that Greece may experience a heatwave lasting 15 to 16 days, potentially surpassing the longest recorded heatwave of 12 days in July 1987. Temperatures may also break previous records, such as the all-time high of 44.8 degrees Celsius (112.64 degrees Fahrenheit) in Athens in June 2007.
The global northern hemisphere is witnessing intense temperatures and extreme weather events. Italy, for example, was hit by hailstorms and record-breaking heat, while the Balkans experienced deadly thunderstorms. Scientists warn that these occurrences may be a sign of what’s to come as the planet continues to warm.