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An out-of-control fire on the Island of Rhodes forces the hasty evacuation of tens of thousands [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-07-22
Apocalyptic scenes reminiscent of thousands of civilians fleeing on foot in war-torn Europe are unfolding on the Island of Rhodes in the Greek Mediterranean Sea. Over 30,000 residents and tourists have fled wildfires that have been burning since Tuesday; they were directed to two beaches by a government text where the coast guard and army were waiting to evacuate them from the island. Private boats also are assisting.
Smoke and fire covered the sky, making a tense situation even more eerie for most tourists there for the holiday.
Evacuees received texts from the Greek Government to leave their hotels and residences immediately.
The fires had been confined to the mountains, but that changed when the flames became turbocharged by heat and wind toward the coastline today. The fires were described as extremely difficult to control.
x Fires near #Lindos #Rhodes Greek guy filming telling tourist pulling suitcase -
“Leave everything, leave here. LEAVE HERE. YOUR LIFE!”
https://t.co/uS90cuppqP — Julie McHamish (@julesmchamish) July 22, 2023
x Thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and hotels on the island of Rhodes, according to Greece's fire service. pic.twitter.com/49m6CbSaTI — Truthseeker (@Xx17965797N) July 22, 2023
x Mass evacuation in Rhodes due to #wildfire - When are people going to realize business as usual is coming to a shuddering halt whether they want to believe in climate change or not. pic.twitter.com/XIx1u6Wazz — Peter Dynes (@PGDynes) July 22, 2023
CNN Reports:
According to the Greek Ministry of Civil Protection, 13 departments, including the Attica region where the capital city of Athens is located, were under red alert for wildfires Sunday, which is the highest state of alarm due to the extreme risk of fire. In Athens, visiting hours for the Acropolis and other archaeological sites have been revised due to soaring temperatures. Staff at some sites are on strike to protest working conditions. “We will probably go through 15 to 16 days of a heat wave, which has never happened before in our country,” the Director of Research at the National Observatory of Athens Kostas Lagouvardos told CNN. He told CNN that the streak could go beyond those days, but at the moment “it’s hard to predict.” The longest continuous heatwave that Greece has faced was 12 days long, back in July 1987, Lagouvardos said. Lagouvardos said temperatures in Athens this summer could possibly break the city’s all-time record, which was set in June 2007, when Athens registered 44.8 degrees Celsius (112.64 degrees Fahrenheit).
x Those damned climate protestors walking slowly, causing havoc and delays in Rhodes this afternoon.
Oh, wait- sorry it’s the climate causing the havoc.
Mass holiday evacuations have now begun. Perhaps we should build more wind farms or something. pic.twitter.com/51N9RTfTY6 — Brendan May (@bmay) July 22, 2023
Sky News:
Four locations close to the areas of Kiotari and Lardos in the southeastern part of the island have been evacuated with at least 2,000 people having already left the island. Users on social media have been describing the scene, with Paul Karlburgi writing on Twitter: "Currently stranded in #Rhodes escaping the wildfires on foot - left everything at the hotel and fled with towels across our faces. "My youngest just told me he doesn't want to die. No news from any authorities. Terrifying situation here."
x This is what main wildfire front in central part of #Greek island of #Rhodes which rendered all N/S roads unusable, looked like, last night arround 3 AM. Fires have not died out. Pinewood seeds disperse flames as napalm 20 meters from burning trees, which is hard to extinguish. pic.twitter.com/CyWxUu32Ja — SilverPhytoPatho (@PathoPhyto) July 22, 2023
x Greece: Another large fire has broken out on the island of Rhodes. Hundreds evacuated as winds push this fast moving fire. #wildfire #greece pic.twitter.com/N1oPvhsUDA — The Hotshot Wake Up (@HotshotWake) July 22, 2023
Jason Aldean is the latest outrage du jour. I’m not sure why. But these meaningless shiny objects over the decades are one of the myriad reasons that have brought us to this horrifying moment in time. It’s sad and portends nothing but doom when you think about it.
Stop making stupid people famous.
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