Plane Fighting Wildfires in Greece Crashes: Homes Destroyed, Tourists Evacuated
A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday as a plane fighting wildfires in Greece crashed, resulting in the destruction of homes and the evacuation of thousands of tourists from the island of Rhodes. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his concerns and warned of tough days ahead due to the rampant fires.
The crash was captured on camera by state broadcaster ERT, showing the plane dropping water over a fire before crashing into a hillside and bursting into flames. The Greek air force confirmed that two airmen were aboard the Canadair CL-215 plane during the crash, but no details regarding their fate have been released.
In an effort to carry out a search and rescue operation, two helicopters were dispatched to the crash site. However, the situation remains uncertain. Meanwhile, hundreds of firefighters, with assistance from Turkey and Slovakia, continue to battle the wildfires that have been raging on the island of Rhodes since last Wednesday. The fires have intensified due to hot and windy conditions, prompting the need for more emergency flights to bring home holidaymakers.
Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis acknowledged the challenges ahead and expressed hope for improved conditions after Thursday. He emphasized that there is no “magical defense mechanism” to combat the impact of climate change, which he referred to as a global crisis.
Amidst the chaos, a prosecutor in Rhodes launched an investigation into the causes of the fires and the authorities’ preparedness and response. State broadcaster ERT reported that approximately 10% of the island’s land area has been burned.
The wildfires have caused distress among locals and tourists alike. Lefteris Laoudikos, owner of a small hotel in Kiotari, recounted the evacuation of the hotel’s 200 guests, mainly from Germany, Britain, and Poland, who fled in rental cars. His family members risked their lives to put out the flames using a nearby water tank.
John Hatzis, owner of three unaffected hotels in northern Rhodes, expressed the urgent need to revive tourism on the island, calling for “superhuman efforts” to bring back visitors. Rhodes, renowned as one of Greece’s most popular summer destinations, attracts around 1.5 million foreign tourists during the summer months.
Over the weekend, approximately 20,000 people had to evacuate their homes and hotels in Rhodes as the inferno spread and reached coastal resorts in the southeast. The fires have caused significant damage to land, wildlife, and buildings. Similar fires have also been reported on the island of Corfu.
Greece has been experiencing a prolonged period of high temperatures, which are forecasted to rise above 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas on Wednesday. The scorching temperatures have led to the cancellation of flights and the evacuation of more than 2,000 holidaymakers. The tourism industry is a vital part of Greece’s economy, accounting for 18% of its output and generating one in five jobs. The reliance on tourism is even greater on islands like Rhodes.
As the investigation into the cause of the wildfires continues, Greece faces the immense challenge of rebuilding and restoring the affected areas. The firefighting efforts, both local and international, demonstrate the urgent need for improved strategies and resources to combat such devastating natural disasters.