Fiery nightmare in Rhodes where the fire rages uncontrollably for the sixth day burning thousands of acres of forest and threatening dozens of villages. Thousands of tourists were evacuated from their hotels threatened by the fire, villages were evacuated.

According to the last communication of SKAI 100.3 with the representative of the Fire Brigade, Yiannis Artofioos, it concerns the front on the south side of the island between Kiotari and the beach front, a part that is active in a saddle that causes flare-ups. There the aerial vehicles drop the water with momentum to go to all the hard-to-reach places, as he said.

The other front he is concerned with is between Apollo and Asclepius.

Regarding Laerma, he said that there is an active part of the fire in the western part and there are enhanced forces there. As for the damages in Laerma, Mr. Artophios said that “we have reports of material damage to the first houses. How serious this is is the next day’s scenario, we were concerned that no one be in danger. The village was immediately evacuated, it was a difficult operation”.

As for how many have been freed in total, he said more than 2,500 tourists were taken by the harbor and private boats, a similar number, perhaps even more, were taken by land, fewer were freed from homes. Everything has developed at a fast pace, people have really suffered,” he said.

The extrication operation has been completed, Mr. Artophios said.

At the scene of the fire at Kiotari the SKAI envoy is located Maria Voussulawhich reports that the flames are rising through green hills, which until a few minutes ago were untouched.

The situation is very difficult, as the wind constantly changes direction, changing the course of the fire, while it also carries embers to other places, creating new outbreaks.

A taxi driver of the island told SKAI that 70 taxis from the center of Rhodes have been allocated for free, to transport tourists to the airport.

Meanwhile, four people came to the Rhodes hospital with respiratory problems, without having to be admitted because they were very minor.

A case with a fracture from a fall during the evacuation of a hotel is also being treated, while a 31-year-old pregnant woman is in the maternity ward and is being monitored.

Yesterday, six people with minor respiratory problems were taken to the Rhodes hospital by the EMS, but they were immediately discharged.

According to information, an inspection by the Fire Department in the village of Laerma found that the village is intact inside, “only 1-2 abandoned warehouses around the perimeter have burned”.

According to the fire department, operations are focused on three active fronts: Specifically, on the front in Kiotari and southwest to Gennadi ground forces are engaged while earthworks are being done to keep the stream from crossing. From the air, 3 “tractors”, one Mi-8, 2 Chinooks and a coordination BK-117 are operating, additionally an S-64 helicopter is operating in Laerma.

In the front from Apollo to Prophet Elias there are constant flare-ups and an effort is being made not to spread further north into the dense forest.

In the forehead east of the artificial lake Gadouraan effort is being made to prevent the fire from spreading to Kalathos.

With regard to the evacuation, release and accommodation of citizens on the island of Rhodes, the State’s priority is the protection of human life.

Spaces were secured for the temporary accommodation of thousands of residents and visitors who were evacuated from their homes or accommodations, in hotels, conference centers, gyms, schools and public/municipal spaces.

At the same time, care was taken to provide food, water and monitoring by a doctor in the accommodation areas.

According to information, the hotel guest relations managers will go to the hospitality areas (for those in hotels, the hoteliers will take care of this) so that the guests who wish to do so can get in touch with tour operators and at the same time there is a better picture of where everyone has found temporary accommodation. They will act as links that is. In schools this responsibility will be taken by the principals.

At the same time, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies, a hotspot will operate today at Rhodes airport, so that visitors who lost or did not take their travel documents with them during the evacuations can return to their homeland without difficulty.

Regarding the fire in Laerma, it is denied that they have “burned completely” as the Fire Department’s inspection revealed that the village is intact inside and only 1-2 abandoned warehouses have burned around the perimeter.

In total, 16 groups of hikers, 266 firefighters, 49 water vehicles are working on the Rhodes fire, while in a short time 10 vehicles with 60 people will arrive on the island and another 5 vehicles will arrive in the afternoon.

Finally, 5 helicopters and 10 aircraft (7 Greek, 1 Croatian and 2 Turkish) drop water from the air.

Settlement evacuations in the middle of the night

The authorities gave an order in the early morning hours today Sunday to the residents of the villages Massari, A brawler and Haraki of Rhodes to urgently leave these communities 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.

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.

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.