Greece has been trying to bring widespread forest fires on the island of Rhodes under control for days. Christos Doulkeridis, mayor of the Brussels municipality of Ixelles, happened to be there when the fires broke out and is helping on site as a volunteer now.
Around 20,000 people – many of them tourists – were evacuated from villages and hotels this weekend because of the heavy forest fires, according to the Greek government.
"I was there because my parents are from the region," Doulkeridis told Bruzz this weekend. "However, when I saw what happened, there was no way I could do nothing. The situation here is truly apocalyptic, the island has never experienced such fires and there is also enormous chaos because there is no emergency plan."
Rhodes has been battling heavy forest fires for a week as a result of weeks of heat and drought. The southeastern part of the island has been particularly hard hit by the fires. 12 villages and all hotels in the area had to be evacuated as a precaution.
Saving the honour of the country
"No one is really in charge, yet at the same time everything runs smoothly," he told De Standaard on Tuesday. "The island has never seen such fires before."
While Belgium might be better organised, there is less spontaneity and initiative, Doulkeridis said. Even though there is no emergency plan, he described the crisis management as "quite impressive."
"I am witnessing one of the most beautiful citizen mobilizations ever," he said. "Without instructions, hundreds of citizens organise emergency shelter and arrange mattresses, sheets, blankets, water supplies, biscuits and hygiene products. The Greek inhabitants are saving the honour of the country."
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The mayor is helping with his language and organisational skills, among other things. "I speak Greek and other languages well and I also know the island. That is why I am mainly calling hotels, reassuring people and helping to spread information to those affected. Additionally, I have already prepared food and cleaned like the other volunteers.”
Doulkeridis cannot yet say how long he will remain on the island. "I hope the situation will normalise soon, but we will see in the coming days."
