Greek government issues wildfire evacuation orders for Corfu and Evia

Corfu’s fire department told the AFP news agency on Monday (24 July) that more than 2,500 people had been evacuated with fires burning in northern areas of the island. 

According to the Evening Standard, tourists in northern areas – including Santa, Megoula and Viglatouri – were instructed to move to nearby villages of Kassiopi, Barbati and Ypsos as the fires approached. 

The Greek coastguard also said on Sunday night (23 July) that 59 people had been rescued from Nissaki Beach and taken to the port, 20km further south.

In Evia, meanwhile, authorities have told residents living in southern villages to evacuate, with the region’s vice-governor, Giorgos Kelaiditis, saying the situation was becoming difficult.

“The fire may be 2km away, but the wind is strong, the growth is low, the smoke thick and the air hard to breathe,” he told Greek news agency ANA-MPA. 

The evacuation orders in Corfu and Evia come after nearly 20,000 people were evacuated from fire-hit areas of Rhodes, in what has become the biggest evacuation operation in Greek history.