- Massive Evacuation Amidst Wildfires in Greece
- British Tourists Among Thousands Evacuated from Rhodes
- Tour Operators’ Response and Repatriation Efforts
The flames have caused one of the largest evacuations in the history of Greece.
A Foreign Office minister estimated that there are up to 10,000 British vacationers on Rhodes as wildfires rage across portions of the Greek island.
Andrew Mitchell made these remarks just before the first repatriation flights from the island to the United Kingdom were scheduled to arrive.
When asked how many Britons are presently on Rhodes, Mr. Mitchell told, “It’s difficult to say with certainty, but the number is between 7,000 and 10,000.”
It comes as sea evacuations from a Corfu shoreline have begun to transport people fleeing wildfires on the Greek island.
Six coast guard vessels and nine private vessels evacuated approximately 59 persons from Nissaki Beach on the northwest coast, according to the coast guard.
The Foreign Office minister said, “We do not know, but the situation in Corfu is very different.”
“The fires are not occurring in residential or vacation areas, and those who were temporarily relocated have been sent back to their accommodations.”
Mr. Mitchell also stated that it is “difficult to predict” whether the wildfires on the islands will improve or worsen, as it “depends on the direction and strength of the wind.”
The minister also stated that tour operators “can and should be as close as possible to the people whose holidays they have organized,” as British tourists have accused Jet2 and Tui of abandoning them in their hotels.
He continued, “I am confident that excursion operators will do everything possible. They may have gotten off to a sluggish start, but I do not doubt that they will do everything they can to support the people whose vacations they have organized.”
Meanwhile, reports indicate that evacuations are occurring on a third Greek island afflicted by wildfires.
About 77 firefighters and 25 water vehicles are battling scattered outbreaks in Evia, east of Athens, according to the fire department, as reported by the Greek state news agency ANA-MPA.
In the meantime, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted that his office is in “close contact with Greek authorities.”
He said that a Foreign Office-British Red Cross Rapid Deployment Team is helping British nationals in Rhodes.
Repatriation flights are scheduled to arrive in Rhodes after tourists and residents huddled in schools and shelters on the island, with many evacuating from beaches on private vessels as flames threatened resorts and coastal communities.
Countless others were compelled to spend the weekend resting on beaches, sun loungers, or the streets.
Approximately 19,000 individuals have been rescued from the island to date.
British visitor Amy Leyden said her Rhodes evacuation was “terrifying” and “I didn’t think I was going to make it.”
Ms. Leyden, her partner, and their 2-year-old daughter were rushed out of their burning hotel by police amid “heavy smoke.”
“We were forced to continue running as the fire grew closer and breathing became more difficult,” she explained.
She explained that a local man picked up the family in a truck and drove them to the shore, where she was greeted by an “awful” sight.
“The army was waiting, but everyone was fighting to get onto the boats, and children were falling into the water.”
After receiving reports of wildfires, the Emergency Communications Service of Greece issued evacuation orders for certain areas of Corfu.
On Sunday evening, residents of Santa, Megoula, Porta, Palia, Perithia, and Sinies were instructed to evacuate the island.
TUI urged visitors of certain Corfu hotels to avoid the airport on July 24 and 25.
“If you are lodging at the TUI Blue Atlantica Nissaki Beach, Pantokrator, Golden Mare, La Riviera, or Nautilus, you are strongly discouraged from traveling to the airport. Other hotels are operating normally, the company said in a Sunday statement.
In the coming days, tour operators Jet2, TUI, and Correndon have canceled flights to Rhodes.
Thomas Cook has canceled some forthcoming vacations and is offering full refunds to customers who wish to cancel their trips.
EasyJet has announced that, in addition to the nine flights it already operates between Rhodes and the United Kingdom, it will operate two additional repatriation flights from the island on Monday, providing 421 additional seats for people to leave.
The airline also pledged to go back to the UK on Tuesday and assess the situation.
No precipitation is predicted after the historic evacuation
The island’s roadways are filled with dead animals and near-burned vehicles, while the trees are black and skeletonized.
Six individuals were momentarily hospitalized for respiratory issues.
During a hotel evacuation, a person fell and broke a limb, and a pregnant woman was transported to the hospital. The pregnant woman is in excellent health, according to authorities.
On Monday, temperatures are expected to fall below 40 degrees Celsius but remain in the upper 30s.
No precipitation is expected within the next week.
It was Greece’s largest evacuation of inhabitants and tourists, according to the fire brigade.
Evacuation ‘chaos’ amid ‘hotels on fire’
He stated, “Yesterday at the hotel there was a great deal of smoke. At one o’clock this morning, we received an evacuation notice on our phones instructing us to flee.
It genuinely felt like pandemonium.
Eventually, a bus arrived and transported them to a metropolitan school.
He thanked locals for helping stranded travellers while he and Ms. Taylor waited for their trip home.
Another British family slept on a classroom floor after being evacuated from a Rhodes fire.
More than 3,000 tourists were evacuated from beaches by coast guard vessels and private boats on Saturday, following the rekindling of wildfires in the southeastern region of Rhodes nearly a week earlier.
Other areas of the third most populous island in Greece were not affected.
Greece’s tourism minister, Olga Kefalogianni, told that “overall, the island is functioning very well.”
She praised the locals for their “solidarity” with the fire-affected visitors.
Nevertheless, tourist-heavy regions were severely damaged.
When massive flames reached the seaside villages of Kiotari, Gennadi, Pefki, Lindos, Lardos, and Kalathos, many people escaped their hotels.
Under an orange sky, crowds congregated in the streets while smoke filled the air.
A fire destroyed Lindos’ hillside and acropolis, perched on a large rock within mediaeval fortifications.
The vice mayor of Rhodes, Thanasis Virinis, told Mega television on Sunday that between 4,000 and 5,000 persons were in temporary housing and requested donations of essentials such as mattresses and bedsheets.
French, Dutch, and German visitors, along with Britons, were among those affected by the crisis on Rhodes.
During prime season, the island can accommodate up to 150,000 visitors at once, according to a hotelier. The island’s resident population is approximately 125,000.
