Dozens of firefighters in Rhodes and Karysto are fighting against the flames and time, in order to stop the fire fronts at a distance from the residential areas and to limit the spread of the fires until the first light of day, when the aerial vehicles will take off.

The fire in Rhodes has been raging for 8 24 hours, destroying everything in its path. The “emerald island” has suffered incalculable damage right in the middle of the tourist season, as properties, facilities have been damaged and of course thousands of acres of virgin forest have been burned.

The effort is concentrated around the villages of Malonas and Massari, where strong fire brigades and groups of volunteers are fighting to stop the advance of the fire and prevent it from spreading to other forest areas. The conditions in which the battle is fought are extremely difficult, with the gale force winds blowing in the area.

Fronts of the fire also exist in the village of Vati where there are firefighters and volunteers who have been working since the afternoon, while we have flare-ups in other parts of the front, from Apollona to Laerma.

Five areas were evacuated

Earlier, 112 rang for at least five areas on the island. More specifically, Gennadi, Vati, Massari, Malona and Kalathos were evacuated.

From the extinguishing operation in Gennadi – Vati

Message from 112 however, it was sent around 11:00 to the residents of the Gennadi and Vati areas to evacuate to Kiotari. The fire in the area of ​​Gennadi and Vati it is still currently burning continuously and the battle is fought in two places: down the river and on the upper side, about three kilometers from the village of Vati. And on this front, the forest firefighting forces are overdoing themselves in order to prevent the fire from escaping to the two villages of Gennadi and Vati.

From the extinguishing operation in Gennadi – Vati

Major damage in Asklipeio

At Asklepeio the fiery blaze on its way through the village caused damage to at least ten houseswith a rough estimate, as the battle continues there due to the constant flare-ups.

Rhodes

In Laerma, village which has also suffered serious damage from the fire, there are also several serious flare-ups there.

Rhodes

Uncontrolled front towards Livadi in Karystos

Ground forces are pinned down as they cannot get close to where the flare-ups are becoming fronts of fire, while the air forces that remain in the area are fighting a real battle on a front approaching 10 kilometers.

“We are fighting a real battle on all fronts” notes the regional governor of Sterea, Fanis Spanos, speaking to the Athens Agency and adds: “We were able to contain the momentum of the fire in Karystos towards the village of Potami and partly towards the village of Platanistos. The front towards the village of Livadi and Karysto is uncontrolled, but it is far from populated areas.”

Policemen in the village of Platanistos transported elderly people to Karystos.

The residents of the Platanistos Karystos area received a message from 112 earlier to evacuate the settlement and head to Karystos.

According to the Fire Department, 93 firefighters with three groups of pedestrians and 32 vehicles are operating at the scene, while two helicopters and three aircraft are assisting from the air.