There has been compensation granted to the thousands of tourists who had to leave Rhodes due to destructive wildfires.
In July, large portions of the Greek island were consumed by flames that raged for days, severely damaging hotels and residences.
The inferno started on July 18 in the centre of Rhodes, but due to high winds, it quickly moved to the east and south shores, which are home to many beach resorts.
Over 7,500 acres of land were burned, forcing more than 20,000 tourists and residents to hastily pack their bags and flee the depressing images.
Rhodes entered a state of “extreme danger” emergency as a result of the wildfires and the 44C temperature spike.
In the end, it meant that many individuals had their holidays cut short among the bloodshed.
However, the Greek prime minister is now pleading with visitors to return the following year by offering them a free one-week stay.
According to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who spoke to ITV, “For all those whose vacation was cut short as a result of wildfires, the Greek government in collaboration with local authorities will offer one week of free holidays on Rhodes, next spring, next fall, so that we can ensure they come back to the island and enjoy its natural beauty.”
According to him, 15% of Rhodes was impacted by the wildfires, and while things are now “back to normal,” the authorities “understand that it caused some inconvenience for visitors.”
Ranch owner Lee Manning of the United Kingdom joined the volunteers helping to save animals as he drove through a wildfire that was threatening to consume his refuge.
Shortly after flames approached within 300 metres of the gorgeous horseback riding facility he and his wife Katie maintain in the village of Gennadi, he sent an emotional video message.
He stated in the video, wiping away tears, “Gennadi is in a really bad way; the locals have been amazing, and that’s island-wide; that’s not just Gennadi, that’s everywhere.”
The locals are the only reason visitors and locals alike are safe on this island.
They have been incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it, and right now there are soldiers risking their life for people’s homes they don’t even know
The locals have suffered a disastrous knock-on impact as a result of the flames, which have destroyed livelihoods and businesses.
In order to contain the fires and aid in the rescue of any trapped animals, firefighters and rescuers have worked nonstop.
The actual extent of the destruction caused by the fires on the land was revealed by satellite photographs.
Wildfires in the Mediterranean, according to Mr. Mitsotakis, are not uncommon, but climate change has made them more intense.
In addition, according to a preliminary analysis of the effects of the flames, Greek officials said on Wednesday that 45 buildings had been damaged on the island.
Greece’s economy, which recovered from a fiscal crisis in 2018, is primarily driven by tourism, and Rhodes, the ninth-largest island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, is a well-liked vacation destination.