Rhodes in State of Emergency, Island Mayor Suspects Arson

Photo source: EU Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid

The Greek General Secretariat of Civil Protection has extended a previously announced state of emergency order for the whole of Rhodes, where fires continue to devastate the island  for more than a week leading to the evacuation of hundreds of holidaymakers and locals from villages and hotels.

Speaking on SKAI television, Rhodes Mayor Andonis Cambourakis said he suspects arson behind “this is huge disaster, an unprecedented tragedy”.

Rhodes Mayor Andonis Cambourakis.

“I am 100 percent certain of this documented suspicion,” he said, adding that he has taken legal action against everyone responsible and is submitting relevant video evidence.

Municipal authorities on Corfu are also claiming arson.

According to ANA-MPA, a deputy prosecutor is currently interviewing the head of the Dodecanese Island Region Fire Service, Nikitas Venios, and the head of the Dodecanese Forestry Directorate, Katerina Balatsouka.

At the same time, the Rhodes Prosecutor’s Office has launched an urgent investigation into the causes of the fire and the failure to contain it.

On Wednesday, fire fighters were still struggling to contain a fire on the islands of Corfu and Evia (Karystos) with new blazes breaking out in Magnesia, Central Greece as a heatwave keeps temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius. According to the last briefing by the Greek Fire Service, a total of 53 forest fires were reported in the last 24-hour period.

Fire in the area of Karystos, Evia. Photo source: Region of Central Greece

The Greek Defense Ministry declared a three-day mourning period in the Armed Forces for the death of two young air force pilots who died on Tuesday when their Canadair firefighting plane crashed in Karystos, Evia.

Most of mainland Greece including Attica remain on high red alert for risk of fire as temperatures continue to rise today.

Meanwhile, repatriation flights continue to return holidaymakers to their homelands.