Hit by one of the longest heat waves in recent decades, Greece is now also having to deal with major forest fires. On the island of Rhodes, in the south-east of the Aegean Sea, more than 9,000 hectares have burned for seven days, and 19,000 people were evacuated. “In a few minutes, the idyllic vacation has become a real nightmare”reports on the phone Giam, a British citizen who has owned a house on the island for ten years and did not wish to give his name.
He was not evacuated but witnessed the evacuation of tourists in the south and east of the island. “The ecological disaster is immense, the forest, which was ravaged, sheltered stags, hinds, small wild horseshe testifies, pointing out the weaknesses of the fire prevention system. There have been no rangers, forest management or fire protection for years on the island. We dare to hope that this tragedy wakes up the authorities and that they take the necessary measures! »
In the country, the lack of means of the firefighters and the absence of prevention in view of the fire season have been controversial for a few days. “We are at war with (…) fires “ And “We still have three difficult days ahead of us”said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday, July 24. Since the beginning of the crisis, the head of government has continued to ensure that these tragedies, due to climate change, are unpredictable and uncontrollable. Statements that do not reassure.
On the television channel Open, a resident of Kiotari, one of the villages which had to be evacuated on Saturday, denounced the ambient chaos during this operation which the authorities described as “largest evacuation operation ever carried out in Greece” : “They left us alone. They said that fourteen Canadair and a helicopter [étaient mobilisés]. But the fire was extinguished when it reached the sea. Everyone was running to try to save themselves. We welcomed tourists into our homes because there was no organization. »
“A huge need for planning”
Polly Chatzimarkou, local correspondent for the leftist newspaper Efsyn abounds: “The volunteer firefighters, residents of the island, were often alone to operate in the woods in very difficult conditions. They were the ones who helped the sappers from other regions of Greece who did not know the terrain. There was no coordination in the operations. »
You have 49.89% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.