Greek Prime Minister&nbsp;Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that tourists who were forced to escape the island of Rhodes after recent wildfires will be given a free one-week holiday there.&nbsp;

Speaking on a British morning show,&nbsp;Mitsotakis said the tourists could take up the offer in the spring or autumn of 2024. He, however, did not specify details of how the free week could be claimed, or how the logistics would work.&nbsp;

“For all those whose holiday was cut short as a result of wildfires, the Greek government in cooperation with local authorities will offer one week of free holidays on Rhodes next spring, the next fall, so that we make sure they come back to the island and enjoy its natural beauty," said&nbsp;Mitsotakis on the show.&nbsp;

"Not a single human life was lost in Rhodes, and no injuries were reported... We understand that guests have been inconvenienced, but I am happy to tell you that Rhodes is more welcoming than ever. The island is back to normal."

Local people as well as tourists were forced to flee their homes and hotels during the wildfires that ravaged the island last month. As many as 20,000 tourists were rescued from danger, in what was the largest evacuation undertaken by the country.&nbsp;

Greece, whose economy has been heavily battered over the past decade, relies heavily on tourism to generate revenue. Rhodes,&nbsp;the ninth-largest island in the eastern Mediterranean, is a popular holiday spot and&nbsp;Mitsotakis wants tourism to quickly return to previous levels.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-record-ocean-temperatures-observed-in-florida-mediterranean-burns-like-blowtorch-619743">Watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Record ocean temperatures observed in Florida | Mediterranean burns like blowtorch</a>

<iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" data-gtm-yt-inspected-19="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-24="true" data-gtm-yt-inspected-30="true" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-record-ocean-temperatures-observed-in-florida-mediterranean-burns-like-blowtorch-619743/embed" width="560"></iframe>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mediterranean-continues-to-burn-as-wildfires-kill-more-than-40-619795#" id="jqclosemark">×</a>

<h2>Climate change increasing the intensity of wildfires</h2>

Up until last week,&nbsp;Mitsotakis was seen warning the Greek parliament that the Mediterranean was in peril due to climate change.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"For the next few weeks, we must be on constant alert. We are at war. We will rebuild what we lost, we will compensate those who were hurt,"&nbsp;Mitsotakis told parliament, as quoted by Reuters.

"The climate crisis is already here, it will manifest itself everywhere in the Mediterranean with greater disasters," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mediterranean-continues-to-burn-as-wildfires-kill-more-than-40-619795">Also read | Mediterranean continues to burn as wildfires kill more than 40</a>

Mitsotakis mentioned that the region was always prone to wildfires, but in recent years, climate change had greatly increased the intensity of the natural calamity.&nbsp;

According to experts, the Mediterranean burning like a blowtorch may have never happened without human-induced climate change. July was recorded as the hottest month in human history, with the UN stating that the "era of global warming" was over as we had entered the era of "global boiling".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that tourists who were forced to escape the island of Rhodes after recent wildfires will be given a free one-week holiday there.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that tourists who were forced to escape the island of Rhodes after recent wildfires will be given a free one-week holiday there. Speaking on a British morning show, Mitsotakis said the tourists could take up the offer in the spring or autumn of 2024. He, however, did not specify details of how the free week could be claimed, or how the logistics would work. “For all those whose holiday was cut short as a result of wildfires, the Greek government in cooperation with local authorities will offer one week of free holidays on Rhodes next spring, the next fall, so that we make sure they come back to the island and enjoy its natural beauty," said Mitsotakis on the show. "Not a single human life was lost in Rhodes, and no injuries were reported... We understand that guests have been inconvenienced, but I am happy to tell you that Rhodes is more welcoming than ever. The island is back to normal." Local people as well as tourists were forced to flee their homes and hotels during the wildfires that ravaged the island last month. As many as 20,000 tourists were rescued from danger, in what was the largest evacuation undertaken by the country. Greece, whose economy has been heavily battered over the past decade, relies heavily on tourism to generate revenue. Rhodes, the ninth-largest island in the eastern Mediterranean, is a popular holiday spot and Mitsotakis wants tourism to quickly return to previous levels. Watch | Gravitas: Record ocean temperatures observed in Florida | Mediterranean burns like blowtorch × Climate change increasing the intensity of wildfires Up until last week, Mitsotakis was seen warning the Greek parliament that the Mediterranean was in peril due to climate change. "For the next few weeks, we must be on constant alert. We are at war. We will rebuild what we lost, we will compensate those who were hurt," Mitsotakis told parliament, as quoted by Reuters. "The climate crisis is already here, it will manifest itself everywhere in the Mediterranean with greater disasters," he said. Also read | Mediterranean continues to burn as wildfires kill more than 40 Mitsotakis mentioned that the region was always prone to wildfires, but in recent years, climate change had greatly increased the intensity of the natural calamity. According to experts, the Mediterranean burning like a blowtorch may have never happened without human-induced climate change. July was recorded as the hottest month in human history, with the UN stating that the "era of global warming" was over as we had entered the era of "global boiling". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Greek PM offers free holiday to tourists who escaped Rhodes wildfires

As wildfires rage on the Greek island of Rhodes for the seventh day, more than 2,000 holidayers have been evacuated on Monday (July 24th). Upcoming trips have been cancelled by tour operators as fires remain out of control on Tuesday (July 25th).

Reuters reports that even as repatriation flights continued on&nbsp;Tuesday, the nation's Civil Protection authority warned that almost every part of Greece remains in the grip of a record-breaking heatwave, and that the threat of further blazes remains high.

<h2>Dutch ministry&nbsp;issues&nbsp;travel warning </h2>

The Dutch foreign ministry has issued a travel warning for Rhodes, and the nearby islands of Corfu and Evia, that have also seen wildfires break out in recent days.&nbsp;

Over the weekend, in Rhodes, some 20,000 people were forced to leave their homes and hotels as the "inferno" that began last Tuesday reached the coastal resorts on the island's southeast over the weekend.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/around-2500-tourists-evacuated-from-greek-island-of-corfu-amid-raging-wildfires-618841">Around 2,500 tourists evacuated from Greek island of Corfu amid raging wildfires</a>

The Greek islands, as per Reuters, are popular with sun seeking European tourists, mostly from Britain and Germany.

TUI, which is one of the world's largest tour operators, announced that it was cancelling trips to the island on Friday. In lieu, it offered free cancellations and rebooking to other locations.&nbsp;

<h2>Evacuations amid&nbsp;firefighting </h2>

Talking to Reuters, fire brigade spokesperson Ioanis Artopios said,&nbsp;"Firefighting forces have not stopped operating since Tuesday."

"Crews have been heading from Athens to replace their colleagues... they are working in very tough conditions amid extreme heat," added Artopios.

As per the spokesperson, on Monday, hundreds of people were also evacuated from areas other than the southeast coastal resort areas, while seven firefighting aircraft would continue to battle the flames until nightfall.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greece-one-killed-after-bridge-collapses-in-patras-rhodes-wildfire-forces-thousands-to-evacuate-618648">Greece: One killed after bridge collapses in Patras; Rhodes wildfire forces thousands to evacuate</a>

In addition, Greek coastguards vessels have been patrolling the coastline, evacuating tourists by the sea.

As per the Greek government, authorities are carrying out the largest evacuation ever undertaken in the nation.

<h2>We are at&nbsp;war: PM&nbsp;</h2>

"For the next few weeks, we must be on constant alert. We are at war. We will rebuild what we lost, we will compensate those who were hurt," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament, as quoted by Reuters.

"The climate crisis is already here, it will manifest itself everywhere in the Mediterranean with greater disasters," he said.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

As wildfires rage on the Greek island of Rhodes for the seventh day, more than 2,000 holidayers have been evacuated on Monday (July 24th). Upcoming trips have been cancelled by tour operators as fires remain out of control on Tuesday (July 25th).

As wildfires rage on the Greek island of Rhodes for the seventh day, more than 2,000 holidayers have been evacuated on Monday (July 24th). Upcoming trips have been cancelled by tour operators as fires remain out of control on Tuesday (July 25th). Reuters reports that even as repatriation flights continued on Tuesday, the nation's Civil Protection authority warned that almost every part of Greece remains in the grip of a record-breaking heatwave, and that the threat of further blazes remains high. Dutch ministry issues travel warning The Dutch foreign ministry has issued a travel warning for Rhodes, and the nearby islands of Corfu and Evia, that have also seen wildfires break out in recent days. Over the weekend, in Rhodes, some 20,000 people were forced to leave their homes and hotels as the "inferno" that began last Tuesday reached the coastal resorts on the island's southeast over the weekend. Also read | Around 2,500 tourists evacuated from Greek island of Corfu amid raging wildfires The Greek islands, as per Reuters, are popular with sun seeking European tourists, mostly from Britain and Germany. TUI, which is one of the world's largest tour operators, announced that it was cancelling trips to the island on Friday. In lieu, it offered free cancellations and rebooking to other locations. Evacuations amid firefighting Talking to Reuters, fire brigade spokesperson Ioanis Artopios said, "Firefighting forces have not stopped operating since Tuesday." "Crews have been heading from Athens to replace their colleagues... they are working in very tough conditions amid extreme heat," added Artopios. As per the spokesperson, on Monday, hundreds of people were also evacuated from areas other than the southeast coastal resort areas, while seven firefighting aircraft would continue to battle the flames until nightfall. Also read | Greece: One killed after bridge collapses in Patras; Rhodes wildfire forces thousands to evacuate In addition, Greek coastguards vessels have been patrolling the coastline, evacuating tourists by the sea. As per the Greek government, authorities are carrying out the largest evacuation ever undertaken in the nation. We are at war: PM "For the next few weeks, we must be on constant alert. We are at war. We will rebuild what we lost, we will compensate those who were hurt," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament, as quoted by Reuters. "The climate crisis is already here, it will manifest itself everywhere in the Mediterranean with greater disasters," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'We are at war': Authorities issue warning as wildfires batter Greek island of Rhodes for the seventh day

rhodes-wildfire

Rhodes Wildfire, News on Rhodes Wildfire, stories on Rhodes Wildfire, articles on Rhodes Wildfire, Rhodes Wildfire stories at Wion, Rhodes Wildfire news, Rhodes Wildfire latest news

rhodes wildfire

Greek PM offers free holiday to tourists who escaped Rhodes wildfires

'We are at war': Authorities issue warning as wildfires batter Greek island of Rhodes for the seventh day