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Tag: Rhodes

  • Greece offers free trips to Rhodes to individuals displaced by wildfires

    Greece offers free trips to Rhodes to individuals displaced by wildfires

    There has been compensation granted to the thousands of tourists who had to leave Rhodes due to destructive wildfires.

    In July, large portions of the Greek island were consumed by flames that raged for days, severely damaging hotels and residences.

    The inferno started on July 18 in the centre of Rhodes, but due to high winds, it quickly moved to the east and south shores, which are home to many beach resorts.

    Over 7,500 acres of land were burned, forcing more than 20,000 tourists and residents to hastily pack their bags and flee the depressing images.

    Rhodes entered a state of “extreme danger” emergency as a result of the wildfires and the 44C temperature spike.

    In the end, it meant that many individuals had their holidays cut short among the bloodshed.

    However, the Greek prime minister is now pleading with visitors to return the following year by offering them a free one-week stay.

    According to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who spoke to ITV, “For all those whose vacation was cut short as a result of wildfires, the Greek government in collaboration with local authorities will offer one week of free holidays on Rhodes, next spring, next fall, so that we can ensure they come back to the island and enjoy its natural beauty.”

    According to him, 15% of Rhodes was impacted by the wildfires, and while things are now “back to normal,” the authorities “understand that it caused some inconvenience for visitors.”

    Ranch owner Lee Manning of the United Kingdom joined the volunteers helping to save animals as he drove through a wildfire that was threatening to consume his refuge.

    Shortly after flames approached within 300 metres of the gorgeous horseback riding facility he and his wife Katie maintain in the village of Gennadi, he sent an emotional video message.

    He stated in the video, wiping away tears, “Gennadi is in a really bad way; the locals have been amazing, and that’s island-wide; that’s not just Gennadi, that’s everywhere.”

    The locals are the only reason visitors and locals alike are safe on this island.

    They have been incredible, I’ve never seen anything like it, and right now there are soldiers risking their life for people’s homes they don’t even know

    The locals have suffered a disastrous knock-on impact as a result of the flames, which have destroyed livelihoods and businesses.

    In order to contain the fires and aid in the rescue of any trapped animals, firefighters and rescuers have worked nonstop.

    The actual extent of the destruction caused by the fires on the land was revealed by satellite photographs.

    Wildfires in the Mediterranean, according to Mr. Mitsotakis, are not uncommon, but climate change has made them more intense.

    In addition, according to a preliminary analysis of the effects of the flames, Greek officials said on Wednesday that 45 buildings had been damaged on the island.

    Greece’s economy, which recovered from a fiscal crisis in 2018, is primarily driven by tourism, and Rhodes, the ninth-largest island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, is a well-liked vacation destination.

  • State of emergency declared in Rhodes as wildfire sends fireball into blood-red sky

    State of emergency declared in Rhodes as wildfire sends fireball into blood-red sky

    Several large explosions at an air force ammunition stockpile have been brought on by wildfires in Greece.

    In central Greece’s Volos region, raging fires eventually spread to the military installation in Nea Anchialos due to strong winds.

    As the area was previously evacuated, officials have confirmed there have been no injuries reported, according to ITV.

    Greek F-16 fighter bombs and ammo were reportedly kept at the location, according to local media.

    The sequence of big explosions on the nearby homes reportedly caused windows to break.

    The local villages have not reported any injuries, according to the fire department.

    Twelve communities in the Volos-Nea Anchialos region were told to evacuate, according to Fire Service spokesman Ioannis Artopios.

    Our men failed to put out the fire despite their extraordinary efforts, he claimed.

    In addition to delaying national rail services travelling through the area, the blaze caused the closure of a portion of Greece’s main roadway and burnt on three fronts.

    Achilleas Beos, the mayor of the city of Volos, urged the remaining villagers’ citizens to heed the evacuation order, noting that about 80% of them had already departed. Numerous locals, according to the coastguard, were transported to Volos on small private boats.

    The police in Rhodes have declared a state of emergency, and they claim that this is the biggest fire evacuation effort the nation has ever seen.

    Up to 10,000 British tourists may have been impacted by the evacuation of thousands of tourists from the nation.

    Rhodes residents beg for assistance, saying, “We have no control over the fire.”

    On the island of Rhodes, about 19,000 people have been evacuated, while at least 2,500 people have also left Corfu.

    Due to the rising flames, tourists were forced to leave hotels and were forced to walk through temperatures above 40°C while sleeping on sun lounger cushions on the ground.

    There have been requests for the Foreign Office to modify its recommendation that people should postpone all but absolutely necessary travel to Rhodes.

    Extreme temperatures have been created by the Cerberus and Charon heatwaves in southern Europe, with Gythio in Greece topping the records so far with 46.4C.

  • Exact locations of wildfires on Greek island shown by Rhodes fire map

    Exact locations of wildfires on Greek island shown by Rhodes fire map

    As Rhodes residents continue to evacuate in the wake of the flames and high heat, other Greek islands are also under risk.

    As the fire grows closer, residents of many villages in Corfu’s northeast have been ordered to leave.

    British tourists recall being told to “run into the sea” as sirens sounded; Rhodes is currently going through a particularly difficult time.

    Jet2, TUI, and other travel agencies cancelled flights to Rhodes as soon as the first repatriation aircraft began landing on the island.

    So as the fires blaze, many people are wondering exactly which areas of Rhodes are affected?

    Where are the wildfires on Rhodes?

    The wildfires on the island of Rhodes in Greece so far are near the towns and villages of Lindos, Pefkoi and Kiotari, which are towards the southern end of the island.

    In the past few hours, they have spread to nearby Masari and Malonas, and Kalathos.

    Lindos is about 47km south of Rhodes Town and the airport.

    Can I cancel my trip to Rhodes?

    Some travel companies are already cancelling trips, including Thomas Cook and TUI. Anyone due to travel to Rhodes in the near future should speak to their airline or tour operator to discuss options.

    Easyjet, for example, is still operating flights to Rhodes but is allowing passengers to booked to travel to or from Rhodes before July 29 to transfer their flight to another date or request a flight voucher.

    Unfortunately, when a government has not issued advice against travelling to a country, getting compensation for a flight or accommodation that has not been cancelled by an airline or holiday company is difficult.

    Some will decide to offer a refund or the chance to reschedule, but in most circumstances they don’t have to. Your travel insurance is unlikely to cover your costs if your flights and accommodation have not been cancelled and you decide not to travel.

  • Passengers receive scary warning from an EasyJet pilot about burning Rhodes

    Passengers receive scary warning from an EasyJet pilot about burning Rhodes

    Prior to takeoff, the captain of a flight to the burning Greek island of Rhodes issued a stern warning to the passengers.

    Greece has been battling wildfires on the mainland and the islands of Corfu and Rhodes for about a week. The fires were started by a sweltering heat wave and spread by strong winds.

    Around 10,000 Britons travelled to the popular vacation destinations, and on Sunday and Monday, many flights of repatriation brought them back to the UK.

    A number of airlines have still been flying to and from Rhodes – but one easyJet pilot issued a strong warning to passengers before taking off on Monday, the Mirror reports.

    37 passengers were on board the 180-seat flight from Gatwick when the pilot issued their final warning – which led to eight passengers leaving the plane.

    Gwyn Loader, who was on board to report for BBC Wales’ Welsh-language news programme Newyddion, said the pilot made the announcement over the Tannoy before take-off.

    The pilot said: ‘Travelling to Rhodes for a holiday at the moment is a terrible idea.

    ‘As far as I’m concerned, this flight is being operated on an emergency basis.

    ‘Return flights are now being managed by the military. If you want to get off the flight, you are welcome to do so.

    ‘I don’t know in what capacity you are travelling, but if you are travelling for leisure, my sincere recommendation is it’s a bad idea.’