[ad_1]
The last evacuation orders were issued on the islands of Corfu and Evia, while a fire on Rhodes continued to move inland, burning mountain forest areas, including part of a nature reserve.
Desperate residents, many with wet towels around their necks to stave off the scorching heat, used hoes to fend off flames that approached their homes, while firefighting planes and helicopters resumed drizzling water at first light.
Authorities said more than 20,000 people took part in successive evacuations on the island, most of them tourists, over the weekend, when fire swept through two coastal areas in the southeast of Rhodes.
The European Union sent 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles and seven aircraft from 10 member states, while Turkey, Israel, Egypt and other countries sent assistance.
“For the 12th day, under extremely hot conditions and high winds, we are fighting non-stop on dozens of forest fire fronts… The Hellenic Fire Service has fought over 500 fires – more than 50 a day,” said Vassilis Kikilias, Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.
In Athens, authorities have resumed afternoon closing hours on the ancient Acropolis, as part of broader measures to deal with rising temperatures.
European Union officials have blamed climate change for the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires across the European continent, noting that 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfire damage on record after 2017.
[ad_2]
