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2023 Greece wildfires

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2023 Greece wildfires
Drevenochoria fire as seen from Ilion, at approximately 2 am on 18 July. These are not flames but the glare from the fire due to the camera settings. The fire is behind the mountains.
Date(s)17 July 2023–present
LocationLagonisi, East Attica, Loutraki, Corinthia, Athens, Rhodes and Corfu, Greece
Statistics
Total fires80+
Impacts
Deaths3
Non-fatal injuries20+
Evacuated20,000+
Structures destroyedHotels, houses and villages burned
Damage€600 million (2023)
Ignition
CauseEuropean heatwaves in 2023
Arson

The 2023 Greece wildfires are multiple ongoing wildfires in Greece which started in July 2023. They have killed one and injured more than 20 people, and burned dozens of areas in parts of Greece, with over 80 wildfires being recorded with the highest temperatures reaching 41.0 °C (105.8 °F) with highs anticipating to reach 45.0 °C (113.0 °F) in Rhodes.[1] Forecasters are suggesting that the current heatwave engulfing Greece is set to be the longest in its history, lasting up to 16–17 days, surpassing the 1987 heatwave. It is also expected to be the hottest July recorded in more than 50 years.[2]

Following a series of heatwaves and wildfires taking place over Europe, wildfires in Greece started on 17 July 2023. The Greek government established a Crisis Management Unit to respond to the situation.

Since 18 July, a wildfire on the Greek island of Rhodes has been ongoing, leading to the evacuation of four locations, including two seaside resorts. Approximately 2,000 people, including tourists, were safely evacuated by sea, accounting for less than 10% of the island's tourist accommodations, according to the fire department spokesman.[3]

Impact by area

Attica

Three major wildfires broke out in the area of Attica on 17 July. Greek authorities directed villagers to evacuate their homes in southern Athens. On 20 July, wildfires had reignited in Athens as a result of wind which forced an evacuation effort in the city.

Corfu

On 23 July, mass evacuations were ordered in Corfu following major wildfire breakouts on the island.[4]

People in Rou, Katavolo, Kentroma, Tritsi, Kokokila, Sarakiniatika, Plagia, Kalami, Vlachatika and Kavalerena were told to evacuate and move to Ipsos whilst people in Viglatouri and Nisaki were advised to evacuate to Barbati.

Evia

In Karystos, the flames reached a height of 20 metres (66 ft) and the mayor asked for increased use of aerial vehicles in extinguishing operations. A man was reported to have died from heat stroke as a result of the wildfires on the island of Evia.[5] On 25 July 2023, a Canadair CL-215 crashed in Karystos, killing its two pilots.[6] Later the same day, a 41-year-old shepherd was found charred in an inaccessible area outside the village of Platanistos in Karystos.[7]

Rhodes

The island of Rhodes suffered multiple wildfires which resulted in over an estimated 19,000 people to be evacuated by land and sea.[8][9] Emergency alerts were sent to residents on the island to warn them of the wildfires and to evacuate.

The fire department in Rhodes stated the fires there prompted the "largest evacuation operation" ever on the island, with the fire department using 10 firefighting airplanes, eight firefighting helicopters, over 260 firefighters, 49 fire trucks and hundreds of volunteers, among others, to tackle the blaze on the island.[10]

On 23 July 2023, it was announced that 1,200 extra people would be evacuated from the villages of Pefki, Lindos and Kalathos.[11] Flights to Rhodes from British package holiday company Jet2.com were cancelled until 30 July 2023 and from TUI until 26 July 2023.[11]

International assistance

The European Union announced that more than 450 firefighters and seven airplanes would be deployed to help the situation in Greece with 81 firefighters, 26 vehicles, and three planes specifically helping the situation in Rhodes.[12]

On 23 July, in response to the wildfires in Rhodes, the UK Government announced that they would deploy Rapid Deployment Team, consisting of responders to support British nationals on the island, being based at Rhodes International Airport.[13]

Bulgaria

Bulgaria deployed 70 firefighters with 14 vehicles to assist Greece.

Croatia

Croatia deployed a fire fighting plane as part of EU assistance.

Egypt

Three firefighting helicopters were deployed from Egypt.[14]

France

Two firefighting planes were sent by France.[15]

Israel

Israel sent two firefighting planes to assist fighting the fire.

Italy

Italy sent two firefighting planes as reinforcements.[16]

Jordan

Jordan sent four fire fighting helicopters to Greece.[17]

Malta

Malta sent 20 firefighters to Greece.[18] This was the first time that Malta had sent firefighters abroad.[19]

Poland

Poland deployed 149 firefighters, along with 49 firefighting vehicles.

Romania

Romania sent 130 firefighters, with 25 firefighting vehicles, deployed alongside their Greek counterparts.

Slovakia

31 firefighters, along with 15 firefighting vehicles, were deployed from Slovakia.

Turkey

Two firefighting planes and one helicopter were sent by Turkey at the request of the President.

Reactions

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis thanked European civil protection agencies for their assistance in helping the situation.[20]

  • Smoke cloud from the Dervenochoria fire as seen from Ilion at 2:20 pm on 18 July 2023.
    Smoke cloud from the Dervenochoria fire as seen from Ilion at 2:20 pm on 18 July 2023.
  • Smoke cloud from Drevenochoria fire as seen at 2:40 pm on 19 July 2023 from Ilion.
    Smoke cloud from Drevenochoria fire as seen at 2:40 pm on 19 July 2023 from Ilion.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Rhodes Wildfires: Situation expected to get worse in 45C heat, Authorities warn". Sky News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  2. ^ France-Presse, Agence (22 July 2023). "Greece faces hottest July weekend in 50 years, forecaster says, as scores of wildfires rage". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  3. ^ Nellas, Demetris (22 July 2023). "Greek wildfires: Thousands of tourists evacuated as wildfire rages on island of Rhodes". Nzherald. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Corfu latest Greek island to evacuate over wildfires". bbc.com. bbc.com. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  5. ^ Gecsoyler, Sammy (22 July 2023). "Heatwave set to be Greece's longest as extreme weather continues in Europe". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  6. ^ Robertson, Kirsten (25 July 2023). "Plane crashes and bursts into flames fighting wildfires on Greek island". Metro News. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Νεκρός σε δύσβατη περιοχή βρέθηκε ο κτηνοτρόφος στην Κάρυστο" (in Greek). Πρώτο Θέμα. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Greece carries out its biggest ever evacuation as wildfires rage on Rhodes". theguardian.com. theguardian.com. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  9. ^ "La Grecia brucia, migliaia di persone in fuga dal Paese". ansa.it. ansa.it. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Largest evacuation operation ever on Rhodes says fire department". BBC News. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Rhodes fires: Jet2 and TUI flights cancelled as British tourists in limbo". BBC News. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Over 450 firefighters and 7 airplanes from 🇪🇺 have been operating in #Greece as fires sprout across the country". Twitter. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  13. ^ "BREAKING: British Government have sent a Rapid Deployment Team to Rhodes". Twitter. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  14. ^ "want to express our gratitude to Egypt for sending 3 firefighting helicopters". Twitter. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  15. ^ Associated Press, Voa News with (18 July 2023). "France, Italy Send Firefighting Planes to Greece as Wildfires Burn Around Athens". Voa News. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  16. ^ Associated Press, Voa News with (18 July 2023). "France, Italy Send Firefighting Planes to Greece as Wildfires Burn Around Athens". Voa News. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  17. ^ "I want to express our sincere appreciation to Jordan, for sending a total of four firefighting helicopters to Greece". Twitter. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Our gratitude goes out to Malta, for sending 20 firefighters to Greece and reinforcing our efforts on the ground". Twitter. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  19. ^ "Maltese firefighters deployed to fight wildfires in Greece". Times of Malta. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  20. ^ Agencies, Daily Sabah with (23 July 2023). "Greece thanks Türkiye for helping it tackle raging forest fires". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
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