Firefighters are fighting the flames on its fronts of fire which rages for a sixth day at Rose.

With a new message from 112, residents are asked to evacuate the areas of Massari, Malona and Haraki, towards Rhodes.

⚠️ Activation 1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣

🆘 If you are in the areas #Masari #Malonas & #Harakievacuate now to #Rose

🔥 Forest fire in your area

‼️ Follow the instructions of the Authorities

ℹ️ https://t.co/kexUnlnGMV@pyrosvestiki@hellenicpolice

— 112 Greece (@112Greece) July 22, 2023

There are many scattered outbreaks around the perimeter of the fire, in the center and east of Rhodes, the representative of the fire department, Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, told SKAI.

The fire on the island will occupy us for several days, he emphasized and added that the priority is the preservation of human life, the rekindling of fires and the dangers that may exist mainly in the coastal zone where most of the settlements and hotels are.

He said that the forces will be reinforced during the night and in the early hours of the morning, some of which will go to the island by ferry from Piraeus.

He added that with the first light of day, a total of 6 air vehicles are expected to operate, including air vehicles from Turkey and Croatia, while he emphasized that this force will be strengthened every hour for any resurgence in the area.

204 firefighters with 13 groups of infantry departments and 39 vehicles are operating at the scene, while 2 C-130s carrying fire and police forces have already arrived on the island.

The Ministry of Climate Change announced the evacuation of the villages of Lindos and Kalathos as well as the settlement of Pefko earlier with an urgent notice. The two villages and the settlement are among the most touristic areas of Rhodes.

A message from 112 has already been sent to the residents of the area.

In a new release of people by sea from the areas of Gennadi and Kiotari, the port authority is proceeding with the assistance of private boats. About 2,500 people have been rescued so far with the assistance of the port corps and private boats in Kiotari and Lardo.

Shortly after 22:00 a message was sent from 112 to the residents of the Kiotari and Gennadi areas to move to the Plimmyri area of ​​Rhodes and further south on the island as the flames have reached Laerma and Kiotari causing damage to houses and hotels.

⚠️ Activation 1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣

🆘 If you are in the areas #Kiotari & #Gennadievacuate now to #Plymmiri

🔥 Forest fire in your area

‼️ Follow the instructions of the Authorities

ℹ️ https://t.co/kexUnlnGMV@pyrosvestiki@hellenicpolice

— 112 Greece (@112Greece) July 22, 2023

Both in Gennadi and in Kiotari there are several hotel units with tourists leaving immediately both by land and by sea. Tourists headed to the beaches to get away safely.

By order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry’s Crisis Management Unit was activated to facilitate the evacuation of foreign citizens in Greece due to the ongoing forest fires, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In addition to the contact phone number 0030 – 210 3681730, the Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made available to foreign citizens in need of assistance the phones 210-3681259 and 210-3681350.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asks both Greek and foreign citizens who are in immediate danger to contact Civil Protection directly and exclusively on the telephone number 112.

The three fronts

As the press representative of the Fire Department, Giannis Artopioos, said while speaking to SKAI, there are three active fronts that worry the fire department:

-Northeast of the artificial dam of Lake Gadoura
-500 meters from Laerma to Lardo, a new front was created that joins the old one
– And the most active that is in the Asklepiion of Rhodes

Continuous transport of tourists

The transport of tourists on their holidays in Rhodes to safe places continues both by floating vessels of the coast guard located on the island and by private individuals.
About 2,500 people have been freed so far. Specifically, the tourists were transported by buses of the island’s tourist offices and by buses of the municipal transport company RODA to gymnasiums and school complexes on the island where they will spend the night, while in some cases they will also spend the night in conference centers of large hotels while three ferry boats are on the island. These are Panagia Skiadani (600 people), Dodekanisos Express (347 people) and Blue Star Chios (300 people). Total 1247 people.

Specifically, in consultation with the Hotel Chamber of Rhodes, the following hotel conference rooms have been allocated for the accommodation and food of citizens who were evacuated earlier as a precaution from their hotels. A total of 3,190 people can be accommodated there:

SHERATION RHODES RESORT—– 250
VERGINA—-400
AMATHUS—-70
RHODES PALACE—-1500
MEDITERRANEAN—-150
PARADISE RESORT- ELA RESORT—-300
OLYMPIC PALACE—–300
KRESTEN PALACE—150
EDEN ROC —70

70 tourist buses have also been secured through the Panhellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises to transport tourists wherever needed.

Earlier, tourists left their hotels in droves to be picked up by port boats and private boats

Ground forces in battle

After sunset the aerial vehicles stopped flying and the ground forces were thrown into the battle. At the moment in Rhodes, 205 firefighters are operating with 13 groups of walking departments, 39 vehicles, the Slovak firefighters are also participating with 31 personnel and 5 vehicles.

At the same time, another 10 water tankers will arrive on the island tomorrow, while in the afternoon a C130 took off with 8 DIAS two-wheelers, while in the evening another 4 vehicles with OPKE forces, and another 8 DIAS two-wheelers will be sent.

Today operating on the fire fronts were 3 Air Tractors, 1 Mi8 helicopter, 2 Erickson, 4 CL-415, 2 Chinook, 1 AB214 and a Super Puma coordinator.

Shocking scenes are taking place in Rhodes. Turn on the sound on the video. Words are unnecessary here. #fire #fires #Rhodes pic.twitter.com/hb25VMVbSO

— idiotypos (@idiotypos) July 22, 2023

On the island a government echelon

A government echelon is moving to the island with the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Director of the Prime Minister’s Office Yannis Bratakos, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, responsible for State Aid Christos Triantopoulos and the Deputy Minister of Tourism Elena Rapti.

The Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Yiannis Pappas is already on the island.