The destruction is great in Rhodes – The aerial spraying of water has begun – Villages and hotels have been evacuated – Houses and thousands of acres of forest and arable land have gone up in flames – According to what the representative of the Fire Department, Yannis Artopioos, told SKAI this morning, people have been called for statements.
Fiery nightmare in Rhodes with the fire burning uncontrollably for the sixth day. Houses were set ablaze, hotels were evacuated leaving thousands of tourists on the streets, thousands of acres of forest and farmland were destroyed.
The fire brigades are fighting hard on its fronts of fire having to contend with high temperatures and strong winds.
At the first light of day they venture 7 aerial means while the ground forces are being reinforced with 266 firefighters, 16 groups of infantry units and 49 vehicles.
According to what the representative of the Fire Department, Yiannis Artophios, told SKAI this morning, people have been called for statements.
The authorities gave an order in the early hours of this Sunday morning to the residents of the villages of Massari, Malonas and Haraki in Rhodes to leave these communities immediately and move towards the city of Rhodes.
A message sent via reads: “If you are in the areas of Massari, Malonas and Haraki, evacuate now to Rhodes. Forest fire in your area. Follow the instructions of the authorities”.
⚠️ 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
Earlier, the urgent evacuation of those in its villages had been requested Lindos and her Basket as well as in the settlement of Pefkonaccording to an urgent notice from the Ministry of Climate Change.
These two villages and the settlement are located in the most touristic areas of Rhodes.
⚠️ Activation 1️⃣1️⃣2️⃣
🆘 If you are in the areas #Pines #Lindos & #Basketevacuate now to #Archangel
🔥 Forest fire in your area
‼️ Follow the instructions of the Authorities
ℹ️ https://t.co/kexUnlnGMV@pyrosvestiki@hellenicpolice
— 112 Greece (@112Greece) July 22, 2023
Earlier, a message was sent from 112 about the settlements Gennady and Kiotari which called the residents to move away, to head towards Plimmyri.
⚠️ 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
The Crisis Management Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was activated
By order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry’s Crisis Management Unit was activated to facilitate the evacuation of foreign citizens to Greece due to the forest fires.
Those interested can contact the contact number 210-3681730.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided additional contact numbers where only foreign citizens can call the Crisis Management Unit. These are the numbers 210-3681259 and 210-3681350.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is asking both Greek and foreign citizens who are in immediate danger to contact Civil Protection directly and exclusively at 112.
Government echelon in Rhodes
A government delegation arrived on the island on Saturday evening with the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and Director of the Prime Minister’s Office Yiannis Bratakos, the Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection responsible for State Aid Christos Triantopoulos, the Deputy Minister of Tourism Elena Raptis and the Deputy Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Yiannis Pap pa.
The fire brigade
They fight the fire after sunset, when aerial means, ground forces,
With a C-130, another 2 EMODE teams go to the island.
Yesterday, 3 Air Tractors, 1 Mi8 helicopter, 2 Ericksons, 4 CL-415s, 2 Chinooks, 1 AB214 and a Super Puma in a coordination role operated on the fronts.
Hospitality and feeding of the affected
In consultation with the Hotel Chamber of Rhodes, conference rooms capable of accommodating 3,190 people have been made available for the accommodation and feeding of citizens who were evacuated earlier as a precaution from the hotels.
The Ministry of Shipping has already allocated 3 E/OG ships for the same purpose. These are Panagia Skiadani (600), Dodekanisos Express (347) and Blue Star Chios (300). A total of 1,247 people can be accommodated.
70 tourist buses were secured through the Hellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises to transport tourists wherever needed.
The front of the fire
Speaking earlier to SKAI, the representative of the fire department, Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, stated that there are many scattered outbreaks around the perimeter of the fire, in the center and east of Rhodes, he 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 while some will go to the island by ferry from Piraeus.
He added that with the first light of day, 6 air vehicles are expected to operate, including air vehicles from Turkey and Croatia, while he emphasized that this force will be reinforced 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.
Release of tourists
The Coast Guard with the assistance of private boats proceeded to rescue people by sea from the areas of Gennadi and Kiotari. About 2,500 people were freed.
Both in Gennadi and in Kiotari there are several hotel units with tourists leaving immediately both by land and by sea.
The tourists were transported by buses of the tourist offices of the island and by buses of the municipal transport company RODA to gymnasiums and school complexes of the island where they will spend the night, while in some cases they will 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.
Source: Skai
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