Giant rescue operation in Rhodes: thousands of residents and tourists evacuated

On the island of Rhodes, where the fire element has been raging for days, a major rescue operation has been organized and continues for thousands of tourists and residents. Today, July 23, the fire spread at high speed towards the coastal areas of the southeastern part of the island.

The decision to evacuate was made early in the morning. 4 districts, the villages of Lardos and Pilonas, immediately after the evacuation of the community of Asklipieu and the district of Chiotari. An emergency message 112 was sent to citizens, directing them to the Gennadi area.

Today the fire is raging fifth day. The fire front has moved to coastal areas, causing residents to two of them, in the Kiotari area, were ordered to evacuate.

Then followed evacuation of hotel guests the same area, as the flames surrounded the hotels, which could lead to human casualties.

The hotel residents were promptly evacuated, and a large-scale operation was organized. People were rescued in all possible ways.

Tourists were evacuated by buses, cars and even taken out of the fire zone even on foot (where it was necessary, for example, from the beaches), where the flame, threatening, approached them.

Foreign citizens were transported to other hotels, stadiums and open areas. In the evening they will be accommodated either in other hotels, or on three ships that have already sailed to the port of Rhodes and are leaving for Athens. In particular, tourists will be accommodated on Blue Star Chios, Dodecanese Express and Panagia Skiadeni.

Wildfires force hundreds of British holiday makers to evacuate on four-mile forced march on Greek island of Rhodes in 95F heat – prompting a flood of complaints to holiday companies https://t.co/ibGUt8THOu pic.twitter.com/mrCMXru9vj

— Mail+ (@DailyMailUK) July 22, 2023

“Vacationers in a panic ran along the shore in search of boats. 30,000 tourists have been evacuated, the flames have reached the hotels,” a German newspaper reported, citing statements by German vacationers. Paul F., 23, says: “When I woke up in the morning, there were ashes on the clothes we laid out to dry. We went down to the shore and a black cloud of smoke hovering above us covered the sun (…)”. There are 150 police officers on the island. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is at the National Crisis Management Center (ESKEDIK), which is coordinating the response to the fire in Rhodes.

https://rua.gr/news/prireco/56631-ognennoe-tornado-na-rodose-video.html

M. Varvitsiotis, Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy of Greece, arrived at the Coast Guard Operations Center while government train sent to Rhodes with Deputy Prime Minister and Director of the Prime Minister’s Office Yiannis Bratakos, Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, responsible for public aid Christos Triandopoulos and Deputy Minister of Tourism Elena Raptis. Deputy Minister of Shipping Yannis Pappas has already moved to Rhodes. 8,000 tourists left the hotels and accommodation where they stayed to rest.

“Some tourists take off from the airport, while others are evacuated by sea. Of the 200,000 tourists who have lived on the island today, about 8,000 are in the fire-prone area. We are transporting them for preventive purposes due to the smoke existing in a wider area,” Mr. Taraslyas said in an interview with ERT.

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