Minister Olga Kefalogianni said on Monday that those planning to head to Rhodes and Corfu should not cancel their plans.
“It’s particularly important to stress only a small part of the island of Rhodes is affected,” Kefalogianni told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“There has been no disruption in the airport.”
“It is the largest evacuation Greece has ever done and it happened in a matter of hours, but everyone is safe.”
She also said that reports stating up to 50 per cent of the island is on fire were inaccurate and that in reality, it is between 10 and 15 per cent.
The entirety of Greece is currently in the midst of a record heat wave, temperatures have exceeded 46 degrees Celsius in some areas.
“According to the data, we will probably go through 16-17 days of a heatwave, which has never happened before in our country,” research director, National Observatory (Greece), Kostas Lagouvardos, told ERT Television.
Australian website SmartTraveller recently updated its warning for Greece, advising, “Normal safety precautions,” the site read.
“Extreme temperatures are affecting many areas of Greece, and there are several active wildfires, including on the island of Rhodes.
“Other areas of Greece are under warnings of extreme fire danger, including areas around Athens and the Peloponnese. Monitor local media for updates and follow the advice of local authorities.”
Featured Image: Rhodes Fires. (Source: Twitter – @ekathimerini)
