The Greek Civil Protection has reported that more than 500 wildfires have devastated the country since July 12, causing evacuations and extensive damage. As of the latest update, three major wildfires are still not fully contained.
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Central Rhodes Island Wildfire: This wildfire, which started on July 18, has ravaged central Rhodes Island in the Dodecanese Islands, located in south-eastern Greece. According to the JRC European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), the affected area has surpassed 14,600 hectares.
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Corfu Island Wildfire: On July 23, a wildfire broke out in Corfu Island, part of the Ionian Islands in north-western Greece. EFFIS reports that approximately 1,100 hectares have been scorched by the flames.
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Evia Island Wildfire: Also starting on July 23, a wildfire has been spreading across Evia Island in central Greece. The burnt area, according to EFFIS, covers around 1,500 hectares.
The impact on residents has been severe, with approximately 20,000 people evacuated from Rhodes Island and nearly 2,500 individuals displaced from Corfu Island, according to the Greek Civil Protection.
In response to the devastating situation, the Copernicus Emergency Management Service has been activated in rapid mapping mode for all three wildfires (EMSR675, 677, and 678).
The European Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) has garnered support from ten countries, with over 480 firefighters and 7 planes deployed from the European Civil Protection Pool (ECPP) and rescEU to assist in the firefighting efforts.
Despite the ongoing efforts, the fire danger forecast remains grim for the affected regions. Over the next 48 hours, according to JRC EFFIS, the fire danger is expected to range from very high to very extreme in Rhodes, from very high to extreme in Evia, and high in Corfu.
Greek authorities and international teams are working tirelessly to control the wildfires and provide relief to those impacted. The situation remains critical, and further support and cooperation are being sought to combat the unprecedented scale of the fires.