The devastating fires on Rhodes didn’t just break out through a quirk of nature – the fire chief of the popular holiday island makes it clear: “These fires are man-made.” In addition to fighting the inferno, they also search for the cause of the fire: “This one will be found.”
Extinguishing work on Rhodes was hampered by strong winds on Tuesday and the situation remains tense. But now detectives have also started to trace the cause of the fire and the first witnesses have been heard. “It will be checked whether they are due to intent or negligence,” said Yiannis Artophios of the Hellenic Fire Corps. The origin of the fires has now been identified near the town of Kiotari.
‘The cause of the fire has been found’
“The investigation is progressing well. As soon as we have complete information, we will make announcements. The cause will be found,” explained Artophios. Firefighters are currently battling fires between Kiotari and Gennadi, in Laerma and southwest of Apollo.
Yiannis Artophios from “Hellenic Fire Corps” in video:
According to initial expert estimates, about 150 square kilometers of forest and farmland have been destroyed. Fires are also raging around the port city of Karystos on the island of Euboea in northeast Athens, threatening villages.
Cool only on Thursday
Meanwhile, there is no sign of the situation easing: on the Mediterranean, locals and holidaymakers should be prepared for extreme heat before it cools down a bit. According to the weather bureau in Greece, temperatures in large parts of Greece will be well above 40 degrees on Wednesday. In the west of the country, the meteorologists would be hotter than 46 degrees on Wednesday. A drop to around 35 degrees is expected on Thursday.
Source: Krone
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