Greece: Wildfires on Corfu started by arsonists, officials claim

Ross McGuinness
Updated ·5 min read
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TOPSHOT - An aerial view shows smoke billowing in background of Kiotari village, on the island of Rhodes on July 24, 2023. Tens of thousands of people have already fled blazes on the island of Rhodes, with many frightened tourists scrambling to get home. Greece has been sweltering under a lengthy spell of extreme heat that has exacerbated wildfire risk and left visitors stranded in peak tourist season. (Photo by Spyros BAKALIS / AFP) (Photo by SPYROS BAKALIS/AFP via Getty Images)
An aerial view shows smoke billowing in the background of Kiotari village on the island of Rhodes, Greece, on Monday. (AFP via Getty Images)

A wildfire on the Greek island of Corfu was the result of arson, local officials have claimed.

Dangerously hot temperatures in Europe are causing havoc in some Greek islands in particular, with 19,000 people being evacuated from the island of Rhodes amid major wildfires.

People on Rhodes were forced to sleep in the airport, in sports halls and even on the street after hotels were closed and homes evacuated.

On Sunday, parts of Corfu were also evacuated after wildfires, with officials saying nearly 2,500 people were forced to leave their homes.

Boats were dispatched to rescue residents by sea. However, no hotels have yet been affected, officials said.

Watch: British couple tell of "nightmare" on Rhodes

On Monday, a local official claimed the fires on Corfu were started by arsonists.

Giorgos Mahimaris, the mayor of North Corfu, told the state news agency APA-MPA that the fire was the result of arson.

He said he made the assessment after visiting three locations where fires broke out on Mount Pantokratoras. He said no properties were damaged in the blaze, which was attended by two helicopters and two firefighting planes.

Theofanis Skembris, deputy mayor of North Corfu, told the BBC the fire service believes the blazes were arson.

An aerial view shows Kiotari village, on the island of Rhodes on July 24, 2023. Tens of thousands of people have already fled blazes on the island of Rhodes, with many frightened tourists scrambling to get home. Greece has been sweltering under a lengthy spell of extreme heat that has exacerbated wildfire risk and left visitors stranded in peak tourist season. (Photo by Spyros BAKALIS / AFP) (Photo by SPYROS BAKALIS/AFP via Getty Images)
An aerial view shows Kiotari village, on the island of Rhodes, after being ravaged by fire. (AFP via Getty Images)
Flames and smoke rise as a wildfire burns near the village of Asklipieio, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou
Flames and smoke rise as a wildfire burns near the village of Asklipieio, on the island of Rhodes, Greece. (Reuters)

"There were four fires that started simultaneously," he said.

"We have to wait for the investigation, but their first unofficial assumption is that it was arson - fires can't start simultaneously in four different places.

"The situation in the island is better now. Most of the fires are under control. There are firefighting airplanes helping. I believe that everything will be over soon."

Read more: Exhausted tourists pictured at airport after fleeing blaze

Tourists sleep as they wait for departing planes at the airport, after being evacuated following a wildfire on the island of Rhodes, Greece, July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou
Tourists sleep as they wait for departing planes at Rhodes airport on Monday. (Reuters)
A woman looks on as tourists wait for departing planes at the airport, after being evacuated following a wildfire on the island of Rhodes, Greece, July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Fedja Grulovic
A woman looks on as tourists wait for departing planes at Rhodes airport on Monday. (Reuters)
TOPSHOT - A burnt car sits in foreground of a charred area after a fire near the village of Kiotari, on the Greek island of Rhodes on July 23, 2023. Tens of thousands of people have already fled blazes on the island of Rhodes, with many frightened tourists scrambling to get home. Greece has been sweltering under a lengthy spell of extreme heat that has exacerbated wildfire risk and left visitors stranded in peak tourist season. (Photo by SPYROS BAKALIS / AFP) (Photo by SPYROS BAKALIS/AFP via Getty Images)
A burnt car in a charred area after a fire near the village of Kiotari in Rhodes. (AFP via Getty Images)

Chariton Koutscouris, Corfu's deputy mayor for tourism and construction, said the fires on the island were down to a "group of people".

He told the BBC: "They get pleasure out of this with the pain of the other people."

He said officials had a "suspicion" fires would be started this weekend, after they were warned on Friday by a fire service chief that someone who started two fires last week would try it again.

It follows speculation that the wildfire on Rhodes was the result of arson.

Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, from the Rhodes Fire Department, told the Daily Mirror on Sunday: "Fires are set by human hands.

"Whether it is due to negligence or fraud will be seen. People have been summoned for statements and others will be summoned.

"As soon as we have complete information - because the investigation is in full swing, we will make announcements."

Up to 10,000 Britons are estimated to be on Rhodes, with repatriation flights to rescue holidaymakers landing back in the UK.

Britons forced to sleep with hundreds of others at the airport, in schools and sport centres.

They have criticised travel firms for the lack of information about the wildfires.

On Monday, travel operator Tui confirmed that holidaymakers returned to the UK on “three dedicated flights” overnight, with plans to bring more back “as soon as possible” in place.

Firefighters, volunteers and police officers operate as a wildfire burns near the village of Asklipieio, on the island of Rhodes, Greece, July 24, 2023. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou
Firefighters, volunteers and police officers work against a wildfire near the village of Asklipieio, on the island of Rhodes, Greece. (Reuters)
RHODES ISLAND, GREECE - JULY 22: Firefighter teams intervene a wildfire across Greece's Rhodes island on July 22, 2023. Thousands of tourists were evacuated from hotels on the southeastern coast of Rhodes island as a huge wildfire that had been burning on the island since Tuesday morning continued to spread quickly. Firefighters, as well as fire extinguisher aircraft, are battling the blazes against strong winds. (Photo by Lefty Damian/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Firefighter teams spray water on a wildfire on the island of Rhodes. (Getty Images)

Jet2 said a repatriation flight, carrying 95 passengers, landed at Leeds Bradford Airport on Sunday evening, before another three leave the island later on Monday.

Foreign Office junior minister Andrew Mitchell said it is “peak holiday season”, with between 7,000 and 10,000 Britons estimated to be on the island.

Airline easyJet will operate two flights totalling 421 seats on Monday and a third on Tuesday, in addition to its nine scheduled flights to the Greek island.

Jet2 announced that hundreds will be repatriated via three separate flights to Manchester, Leeds Bradford and Birmingham later in the evening, in addition to more than 50 scheduled flights.

RHODES ISLAND, GREECE - JULY 23: People evacuated from their home take shelter at a sports hall in Venetokleio due to wildfires on Rhodes island, Greece on July 23, 2023. Some 19,000 people have been evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires continued burning for a sixth day, authorities said on Sunday. As many as 266 firefighters and 49 fire engines were on the ground battling the blazes, assisted by five helicopters and 10 airplanes. (Photo by Damianidis Eleftherios/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
People evacuated on Rhodes take shelter at a sports hall in Venetokleio. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, a Foreign Office spokesman confirmed a Rapid Deployment Team has arrived on Rhodes to support travel operators in bringing Britons home.

The wildfire had been confined to the island’s mountainous centre but, aided by winds, very high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread towards the coast on the island’s central-eastern side.

In a statement, Tui said: “We appreciate how distressing and difficult it’s been for those who have been evacuated and ask that they continue to follow the advice of the local authorities and keep in touch with the Tui reps who are present in all evacuation centres."

Watch: First flights rescue British holidaymakers fleeing Rhodes wildfires