Greece Wildfires

Orange, a color that may seem beautiful but causes scares when it fills the skies. In Rhodes, Greece, which is the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greece and is their historical capital, there is currently an intense amount of blazing wildfires. The wildfire in the central and south part of Rhodes, a hugely popular island for holiday makers, and has been burning since Tuesday, July 18. It is the largest of a number of blazes in Greece, which is sweltering due to a heat wave that experts say is likely to become the country’s longest on record.

Greek authorities have reported that fortunately nobody has been severely harmed, but nine people have been briefly hospitalized due to breathing issues. These wildfires have forced many residents and tourists to start evacuating from the area– hotels and local buildings all evacuated. Many ancient sites that are viewed and visited by tourists were all closed due to the high temperatures, reaching 113 degrees Fahrenheit, about 45 degrees Celsius. People are being forced to escape the island to safer locations; crowds of people standing on beaches in the dark as officers helped them into rescue boats.

The wildfires on Rhodes are among hundreds to have broken out across Greece in the past week, stoked by tinder-dry conditions as heat waves sweep the country. Many people believe that the tinder-dry conditions are a result of climate change. Climate change is causing global temperatures to rise, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves. Higher temperatures can cause evaporation of moisture from vegetation and soil, drying them out and creating tinder-dry fuel for wildfires. Additionally, climate change can disrupt precipitation patterns, resulting in more frequent and prolonged droughts in some regions. Reduced rainfall and extended dry periods can lead to drier vegetation and soil, making them more susceptible to ignition.

Overall, these wildfires in Greece are posing many challenges to the people currently there, living or visiting. Many people are forced to evacuate and hope for safety; many are also getting physically affected by the wildfires, causing them to go to the hospital. Climate change is a possible accelerator of these rapid wildfires and to prevent climate change from accelerating further major weather events, the world needs to take the next step to battle climate change. Additionally, during events such as this, neighboring nations could support those in Greece by providing resources to help those to evacuate.