![]() ![]() A prosecutor had launched an investigation into the causes of the fires and the preparedness and response of authorities, ERT reported. The mayor of Rhodes said on Facebook the island was facing an unprecedented ordeal. But critics say it has not improved its ability to put out fires that are common in summer, though more intense in this year's heatwave. ![]() Rhodes, one of Greece's biggest islands, is among its top summer destinations, attracting about 1.5 million foreign tourists in the summer months.Ībout 20,000 people had to leave homes and hotels in Rhodes over the weekend as the inferno spread and reached coastal resorts on the verdant island's southeast, after charring land, killing animals and damaging buildings.Īfter a blaze in the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, in 2018 killed 104 people, Greece has taken a more proactive approach towards evacuations. "After the superhuman efforts to contain the fire we need superhuman efforts to restart tourism now," he said. John Hatzis, who owns three unaffected hotels in northern Rhodes, said the island needed to welcome back tourists. He told me 'if I leave there will be no hotel'." I called him, and he didn't want to leave. "On Saturday when I saw the wind and that there were no planes, I told everyone 'we're going to burn today,'" he said. He said his father, cousin and two others were trying to douse the flames using a nearby water tank. ![]()
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