Fire and Water

On Tuesday afternoon a 61 year old farmer from the village of Agios Isidoros in southern Rhodes decided to burn some brushwood to clear a firebreak. That decision has so far resulted in the loss of about 5 000 acres of woodland, the evacuation of villages, monasteries and hotels, an international firefighting operation with men and equipment from France, Italy and Cyprus, the loss of farm buildings… and water rationing on Symi.

Symi’s water, as we all know, is brought in by ship from Rhodes. The spring from which the water is pumped to the ship is near one of the areas of conflagration. So, for the moment, as the fires burn for the fourth consecutive day, the municipality of Symi is keeping a close watch on the island’s water consumption and the water has been turned off in various neighbourhoods over the past few days.

The luckless farmer has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for unintentional arson. Meanwhile the fires rage on, fanned by a particularly strong meltemi. Drifts of smoke have been tinting Symi’s sunsets and the local fire fighters are on stand by.

On a more cheerful note, tonight is the opening of the Symi Festival with Glykeria, Despina Olimpiou and Michalis Emirlis. It promises to be a good one!

Have a good weekend.

Regards,
Adriana