In a dramatic turn of events, the idyllic Greek island of Rhodes has transformed into a fiery hellscape. Wildfires have been raging unabated for six days, forcing nearly 20,000 folks, mainly vacationers, to abandon ship. Yet, it seems Europe’s travel agencies are only now pulling the plug on flights to the embattled island. Better late than never, I suppose.
The picturesque Greek island of Rhodes has been engulfed in devastating wildfires, leading to the evacuation of approximately 19,000 people, including tourists hoping to spend their summer holidays in the idyllic destination.https://t.co/BDJSmnliUV
— TSC International News (@news_tsc) July 23, 2023
A whopping 16,000 people were herded off the island by land, with an additional 3,000 being whisked away by boat, according to Rhodes’ boys in blue. In an island known for sun, sand, and ancient ruins, the wildfire has painted a grim picture of chaos and desperation.
British tourist Kevin Evans, in an interview with PA, recounted a scene of panicked hotel guests fleeing in their swimwear, leaving their possessions behind. Others, like Belgian tourist Cedric Guisset, shared their confusion and frustration with the lack of clear evacuation instructions from the hotels.
However, the Greek fire brigade, in an oddly proud moment, hailed this as the country’s “largest evacuation ever.” Ioannis Artopios, a spokesperson for the brigade, seemed to revel in the scale of the operation. But then again, why let a good crisis go to waste, right?
One hotel manager, Juri Viesi, lamented the loss of the once verdant area, now turned into a blackened ruin. “It’s not about losing one or two weeks’ tourism; it’s about the impact on people’s lives,” he said. Touching words indeed.
Meanwhile, as Europe swelters under a heatwave, the fires continue to erupt across Greece, with the beautiful island of Rhodes bearing the brunt. Just this Sunday, temperatures soared to a scorching 96 degrees Fahrenheit, and no respite is expected for the rest of the week.
In an ironic twist, Europe is rallying to help Greece contain the flames. “Over 450 firefighters and seven airplanes from the EU have been operating in Greece as fires sprout across the country,” tweets EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic. It’s heartwarming to see how disaster brings us together, isn’t it?
