Firefighters have been battling to extinguish blazes for six consecutive days on the Greek island of Rhodes, trapping thousands of tourists and locals. Many have been forced to spend the night in hotel lobbies, gymnasiums, schools, or boats at the port. The Greek authorities have reported no major injuries, although nine people were briefly hospitalized, mostly due to breathing problems. Vacationers have criticized travel operators for flying them to the island despite the ongoing fires. The wildfires on Rhodes are among numerous fires that have broken out across Greece in the past week due to dry conditions and heat waves. Other countries in Southern Europe have also been affected by extreme weather. Temperatures in central Greece were expected to reach 113 degrees Fahrenheit, prompting the closure of ancient sites. Coast guard vessels worked overnight to evacuate thousands from seaside areas of Rhodes threatened by the fires. Images showed people walking to safety under an orange sky and being helped onto rescue boats. Ioannis Artopios, a spokesman for the Greek fire service, stated that around 19,000 people were moved away from the fires on the island. However, the resources of the fire service were further stretched after a bridge collapsed in western Greece. On Rhodes, British playwright Paul Kalburgi reported being evacuated from three hotels. He said the fires looked terrifying in the darkness and expressed frustration at the lack of practical transportation options. Other tourists described their harrowing experiences and criticized travel agencies for a lack of advice. Fires were also reported in other parts of Greece, including Evia, Corfu, and central and southern Greece. Both Jet2 and Tui, British airlines and tour operators, canceled flights to Rhodes. The Greek Foreign Ministry announced it would set up a help desk at Rhodes International Airport to assist tourists who may have lost passports. Efforts to extinguish the fires continue, with aircraft dropping water and firefighters working tirelessly to protect residential areas. Thousands are still stranded on the island, waiting for assistance.
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