Monday, July 24, 2023
The terrific wildfires continue to devastate the Greek island of Rhodes, forcing around 19,000 people to evacuate, including many British tourists. As the fire spreads towards the eastern coast, where numerous resort hotels are located, holidaymakers were forced to abandon their accommodations, leading to a shortage of available lodging. Some were fortunate enough to find shelter in other parts of the island, while others resorted to sleeping on makeshift mattresses in sports halls, conference rooms, and even on the streets.
Holiday companies have taken various actions in response to the crisis. Jet2 has canceled five flights to Rhodes, and TUI has suspended all flights to the island until Wednesday. Thomas Cook is offering full refunds to customers scheduled to travel to Rhodes on Tuesday, July 25, if they no longer wish to proceed with their plans.
EasyJet is working to repatriate stranded British tourists, operating two flights on Monday and another on Tuesday, providing a total of 421 seats, in addition to their regular scheduled flights. The Foreign Office has deployed a rapid deployment team and Red Cross workers to assist affected British nationals.
While the situation remains challenging and some tourists endure another night in makeshift shelters, volunteers and local Greek families have stepped in to provide help and support to those affected by the wildfires. The Greek fire service has warned that the situation may worsen as more villages require evacuation, underscoring the severity of the ongoing crisis. The safety and well-being of those caught in the disaster continue to be a priority for both authorities and travel operators.
Tags: greece, Greece tourism, Heatwave in Europe:, wildfire
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