Shocking before and after images reveal wildfires horror at Greek resort

Heartbreaking before and after pictures show the aftermath of a blaze that continues to rip through the Greek Islands - with one five-star resort completely destroyed.

This satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies on July 24, 2023, shows a view of a fire near Gennadi on Rhodes island in Greece. Picture: AFP.

Shocking before and after pictures reveal the charred remains of a five-star resort in Rhodes after it was destroyed by raging wildfires.

Heartbreaking footage shows the aftermath of a catastrophic blaze that continues to rip through the Greek island after seven days, The Sun reports.

Lindos Imperial before the wildfires hit. Picture: TikTok

Lindos Imperial after the wildfires ravaged the resort. Picture: TikTok

The video starts with holiday-makers relaxing by the pool at the luxury Lindos Imperial Resort and Spa, in the village of Kiotari.

But the “out of control” fire sparked a mass evacuation, sending at least 19,000 people fleeing.

In the second part of the clip, the same pool area of the hotel is covered in ash, while a few burned loungers can be seen in the background.

The hotel announced on a social media post that those who still have belongings at the property could go and collect them.

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It said in a statement: “The safety and wellbeing of our guests and staff are our utmost priority and we have taken this precautionary measure to ensure everyone’s security.

“We want to emphasise that we are in constant communication with the local authorities, closely monitoring the situation.

“Rest assured, we are taking all necessary measures to address the situation responsibly and ensure a safe environment for everyone.

“During this challenging time, we extend our deepest gratitude for your understanding and support. “

This satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies on July 24, 2023, shows a view of a fire near Gennadi on Rhodes island in Greece. Picture: AFP.

Lindos Bay on Rhodes Island in Greece is a popular tourist spot. Picture: iStock

Firefighters on the island are still battling the flames as thousands of people have been forced to evacuate burning hotels, with tourists scrambling to get home on evacuation flights.

The deputy mayor of Rhodes, Konstantinos Taraslias, said the fires are still burning out of control after seven days of fighting them.

He said thousands of people need to be evacuated and given shelter as the flames ripped through tourist hot spots.

Fresh evacuation orders were issued for another two villages on the island- Malona and Massari- amid fears the fire will reach the nearby village of Archangelos.

A deer runs with smoke in the background during a fire between the villages of Kiotari and Gennadi, on the Greek island of Rhodes on July 24, 2023. Picture: AFP.

More than 16,000 people have been evacuated by land and 3,000 by sea from 12 villages and several hotels.

Some 30,000 people fled the flames on Rhodes at the weekend, the country’s largest-ever wildfire evacuation as extraordinary scenes showed columns of people lugging suitcases along the island’s roads.

Brits on the island spoke about facing a “living nightmare” fleeing burning hotels.

Other fleeing Brits spent the night in makeshift camps across the island – with young kids forced to sleep on mattresses in classrooms and gyms.

A British dad-of-four described his family’s hell as they fled the Rhodes inferno in the dead of night.

PE Teacher Daniel Jones said he had to wade into the ocean neck deep to get his young family onto a pleasure boat to escape the flames that chased them.

“It has been a nightmare, our holiday has been ruined, our kids traumatised,” he told The Sun.

“There was still a lot of confusion, it was madness. There were no reps or anyone to tell us what was happening.

“There was a moment where you could clearly see the flames moving closer but there were no boats to escape, I felt completely powerless to protect my family.”

The Rhodes fire roared down mountain slopes, burning homes and cars and leaving livestock dead on the roadside as they tried to escape.

Authorities said no serious injuries were reported, but hospitals and health volunteers provided first aid to tourists and locals.

Small planes spray water over a fire between the villages of Kiotari and Gennadi, on the Greek island of Rhodes on July 24, 2023. Picture: AFP.

Rhodes on Tuesday remains at the highest level of fire alert, alongside Crete.

Greece’s authorities have issued a “Level 5” alert for wildfires across the holiday hotspot areas of Rethymnon, Heraklion, and Lasithi.

Now, locals and tourists are also being evacuated from Corfu after another blaze erupted in Greece.

People in the areas of Santa, Megoula, Porta, Palia, Perithia and Sinies on the island have been told to leave immediately.

About 2,400 locals and tourists fled the flames today, a fire service spokesman said.

Meanwhile, wildfires also broke out today on Evia, the country’s second-largest island.

Vassilis Kikilias, Greece’s civil protection minister, said crews had battled over 500 fires around the country for 12 straight days. 450 firefighters and seven planes have arrived from the EU to help tackle the dozens of fires while neighbouring Turkey sent 10 water-dropping planes and 10 helicopters to join the efforts in Rhodes.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.