Corfu and Evia, two Greek islands, are the latest to issue evacuation orders as devastating wildfires continue to ravage the country. On the island of Rhodes, 19,000 people have already been forced to leave their homes, marking the largest evacuation in Greece’s history. Thankfully, no injuries have been reported so far.
The wildfires have left holidaymakers stranded, with airlines and travel companies scrambling to repatriate their customers. EasyJet has planned two repatriation flights today, followed by another tomorrow, while Jet2 is also sending planes to bring its stranded customers back home.
The situation has left people displaced and seeking shelter wherever they can find it. Those forced to evacuate hotels have resorted to sleeping at the airport, in sports halls, conference centers, and even on the streets.
In light of the dire circumstances, a national holiday scheduled for today has been canceled by the Greek presidency due to what they termed “extraordinary conditions.”
Greece is currently facing extreme heat, with temperatures soaring above 40°C (104°F) across the country. The fires on Rhodes have been raging for nearly a week, exacerbating the crisis and posing significant challenges for firefighting efforts.
The Greek authorities are working tirelessly to contain the fires and ensure the safety of residents and visitors. The situation highlights the severity of climate change-induced extreme weather events, and the urgent need for global action to address and mitigate their impacts.
Major wildfire on the island of #Corfu on Sunday. #Greece’s Coast Guard evacuated 59 people by sea so far from Nisaki.
🎥 via Facebook Live pic.twitter.com/zSqKrvhbPk
— Daphne Tolis (@daphnetoli) July 23, 2023
