Heatwave hell: Greek vacation paradise turns inferno, 20,000 evacuated

The Greek island of Rhodes is currently under siege from uncontrolled wildfires, now in their seventh day. Over 2,000 holidaymakers were evacuated on Monday, while incoming trips have been halted by tour operators, owing to the unmanageable blazes.

The Greek Civil Protection authority has issued stark warnings of more wildfires, as the nation is caught in the grip of a record-breaking heatwave. The Dutch foreign ministry has joined the chorus of alarm, issuing travel warnings for not just Rhodes, but also the nearby islands of Corfu and Evia, which have also seen wildfires recently.

The “inferno” which started last Tuesday in Rhodes has forced nearly 20,000 people to leave their homes and hotels over the weekend as the flames reached the island’s southeast coastal resorts. Sun-seeking European tourists, mainly from Britain and Germany, frequent these Greek islands, as reported by Reuters.

Greek island of Rhodes ravaged by wildfires: Tourist evacuation underway. Photo courtesy of sippakorn yamkasikorn from Pixabay.

TUI, one of the world’s largest tour operators, has cancelled trips to the island, offering free cancellations and rebooking to other locations.

In an interview with Reuters, fire brigade spokesperson Ioanis Artopios revealed that firefighting efforts have been ceaseless since last Tuesday. Firefighters from Athens have been dispatched to relieve their colleagues as they tackle gruelling conditions amid sweltering heat. Hundreds of people have been evacuated from various areas of the island, while seven firefighting aircraft continue to battle the flames.

The Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, addressing the parliament, declared a state of war against the wildfires. He assured the rebuilding of the lost areas and compensation for those affected. He further emphasized that the climate crisis is already manifesting its devastating effects throughout the Mediterranean.