Aha Dua Permata: Hundreds of Tourists Evacuated as Wildfire Threatens Resorts on Rhodes

Sunday, 23 July 2023

Hundreds of Tourists Evacuated as Wildfire Threatens Resorts on Rhodes

Firefighters struggled to contain a wildfire on the Greek island of Rhodes that burnt forestland for a fifth day on Friday (July 21) as another heatwave hit the country.

Hundreds of tourists are being evacuated from two hotels in the resort of Kiotari, on the Greek island of Rhodes as a wildfire burns out of control for a fifth day.

According to local site Rodiaki, the tourists are evacuated from “Lindian Village” and “Rodos Village”. There are more than 30 buses in the hotels to transport tourists to a safer area.

Upscale and semirural, Kiotari is a tranquil beach resort noted for its all-inclusive hotels with spas and pools. Divided by 2 small headlands, the long, black-pebble stretch of Kiotari Beach is overlooked by fine-dining restaurants, family-friendly pizzerias, and laidback seafood tavernas.

Hotels and resorts in one of Greece's top tourist destinations have been evacuated as a wildfire rages on the island.

The large blaze on the paradise island of Rhodes is now into its fifth day of burning as firefighters battle to bring it under control.

Authorities have also evacuated the village of Laerma and other settlements in the area.

#Rhodes #fire Lardos being told to evacuate pic.twitter.com/6xhvqgAbcz
— mark fiander (@markfiander2) July 22, 2023

@BBCNews @bbc5live wild fires in Lardos, Rhodes just now pic.twitter.com/beiQikgcsq
— POC (@p0c01) July 22, 2023

Firefighters on Rhodes are continuing to fight wildfires on the island for the fifth consecutive day, as residents were evacuated from a central village on Friday night.

Villagers in Laerma received the 112 evacuation text message at around 10.30 p.m.

According to local media on the island, three hotels on the island have been evacuated after the wildfire reached the premises while boats have been sent to pick up people from two beaches

A Fire Service representative, speaking on SKAI radio, described the operation on Rhodes as a difficult one, with various challenges in the northern part of the island. Strong winds had pushed the fire south towards Laerma, which resulted in the evacuation order.

The Civil Protection Ministry has warned of a high-risk of fire in 7 of the country’s 13 regions on Saturday, namely Attica; Central Greece (in particular the regional units of Viotia, Evia, Fthiotida, Fokida); the Peloponnese; Western Greece; Thessaly (Larissa, Magnesia); South Aegean (Rhodes); and North Aegean (Samos, Ikaria).

Meteorologists are predicting that temperatures in Greece will reach 44°C (111.2°F) on Saturday and Sunday as an unprecedented heatwave hits Greece and southern Europe.

Jet2 where are you? No help, contact or guidance. Had to walk 4 mile in the heat across dirt tracks in smoke and ash with a 5 year old. No possessions #jet2 #rhodes #lindosimperial pic.twitter.com/iWBHtFUoYi
— Jon Hughes (@hughesy_1985) July 22, 2023

According to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (EMY), the heatwave will culminate on Sunday. What makes matters worse is that after a brief respite on Monday, another heatwave is projected to hit Greece which would last until next weekend.

A Greek man died of heatstroke on Friday.

According to an official announcement by the Chalkida General Hospital in central Greece, a 46-year-old man died after being exposed to “a very high temperature.”

“Resuscitation, CPR, and intubation were performed to no avail. Possible cause of death is cardiorespiratory arrest after exposure to a very high temperature,” says the hospital’s statement.