Wildfires continue to burn on the Greek island of Rhodes for the seventh consecutive day, with officials warning of a high risk of new outbreaks across the country. In response to the escalating situation, tour operators have commenced a mass evacuation, flying nearly 1,500 holidaymakers back to their home countries, primarily the UK, Germany, and Italy. The fires, which began last Wednesday, have forced the evacuation of 19,000 people on Rhodes, as well as triggered evacuations on the island of Corfu. Rhodes and Corfu are popular tourist destinations, particularly among British and German travelers.
Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressed parliament, stating that the country must remain on constant high alert in the coming weeks. He described the fires as a war and pledged to rebuild and compensate those affected. Mitsotakis also emphasized the impact of the climate crisis, warning of greater disasters in the Mediterranean.
After leaving their hotels and resorts, stranded tourists spent the night on the floor of Rhodes airport, awaiting repatriation flights. The first flights arrived overnight, with a total of 1,489 tourists flown back from Sunday to Monday morning. TUI’s UK and Ireland branch transported three plane loads of passengers, making it the largest evacuation in Greece’s history.
British Foreign Office Minister, Andrew Mitchell, estimated that up to 10,000 Britons were currently on the island of Rhodes. Austrian tourist, Mario Wiese, expressed frustration over the lack of care for stranded tourists, describing the conditions at the airport as inadequate.
Various airlines have ramped up repatriation efforts, with easyJet operating two flights from Rhodes to London’s Gatwick airport on Monday and another on Tuesday. Jet2 is also providing three additional flights to bring back around 600 people. Air France has increased its flights from the island, while Ryanair is closely monitoring the situation but has reported no flight cancellations.
On the island of Corfu, nearly 2,500 people were given shelter in stadiums, although many have since returned to their hotels. On Rhodes, some holidaymakers were forced to walk for miles in scorching heat to reach safety. The fires have left behind a trail of devastation, including burnt trees, dead animals, and destroyed vehicles.
Greece frequently experiences wildfires during the summer months, but the intensifying effects of climate change have led to more severe heatwaves. Concerns have arisen that these disasters may discourage tourists from visiting. Tourism contributes 18% to Greece’s GDP and supports one in five jobs. The impact is even more significant on islands like Rhodes, where the economy heavily relies on tourism.
Civil Protection has issued warnings for practically every region in Greece, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in many areas. Emergency services are also battling fires on the islands of Evia and Aigio, as well as near Athens.
The situation remains alarming, and the Greek government continues to work tirelessly to protect residents, visitors, and the country’s vital tourism industry.
(Note: Edited for clarity and coherence)