The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised Irish citizens to be vigilant and stay away from affected areas as wildfires continue to rage on the Greek island of Rhodes. A fire has been burning in one part of the island for over a week.
Thousands of tourists and residents were forced to evacuate several villages on the island. Authorities fear strong winds could hamper firefighting efforts on Sunday.
A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said a number of Irish nationals had contacted the department following the recent fire in Rhodes, Greece. "The wildfire has caused road closures and extensive damage to property, particularly in the center of the island, and some areas are being evacuated," the spokesman said.
"Irish citizens are advised to exercise caution, stay away from affected areas and evacuate affected areas quickly. This is an evolving situation and citizens should adhere to evacuation orders and instructions from emergency services and local authorities. If citizens intend to travel to Rhodes, they should check with their travel operators or their hotel before travel to see if the area they plan to visit is affected by current bushfires and evacuations. It is important to avoid travel disruption. The department advises against travel to affected areas.
"Irish citizens should call the Greek emergency services on 112 if they are in an emergency. People should turn to roaming mobile phones to receive alerts from local authorities. "Authorities have set up temporary shelters in Greece for tourists who had to evacuate their hotels. Citizens should contact their tour operator or agency for information on arrangements and flights. Anyone requiring consular assistance can call the Embassy of Ireland in Greece on +30 2107232771 or the Honorary Consulate of Ireland on +30 2241075655.
Ryanair flights are currently operating as normal to/from Rhodes Airport, unaffected by the bushfires. A Ryanair spokesperson said. Meanwhile, TUI has announced the cancellation of all outbound flights to Rhodes until July 25 due to the bushfires.
About 3OK people were evacuated from the island of Rhodes in Greece due to wildfires. The fire service said that due to strong winds and heat the fight against the fire will take several days. pic.twitter.com/ZQM7rSXxqa
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