Terrified Brits left to fend for themselves after fleeing wildfire 'warzone'
Panicked Brit tourists in wildfire-ravaged Rhodes were forced to flee their burning hotel "like a warzone" after being left to “fend for themselves”.
Thousands of people on the Greek island have been displaced and hundreds evacuated by boat as a wildfire which started five days ago spread to hotels in Kiotari on Saturday.
One woman has told The Mirror how her friend and her family became stranded in the chaos when they fled their hotel on foot in the 40C heat, and were stuck at the island's airport with no money or passports.
Eileen Mawton and her daughter Hannah Gormley and eight-year-old granddaughter Annabelle are among the estimated 10,000 people forced to leave, after their Jet2 holiday hotel - the Princess Sun Hotel - began to catch fire.
The three, from Liverpool, were on holiday at the resort and began to worry when ominous clouds appeared on Friday as they sat around the pool, friend Glynis Wall told The Mirror.
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Hannah Gormley and mum Eileen Mawton are stranded in Rhodes after their hotel caught fire (Hannah Gormley.)The three said hotel managers left the hotel leaving guests to wait for rescue coaches which “never turned up”, instead leaving on foot for another hotel - Gennadi Grand Resort - which was then also evacuated.
“They said it was like images of a warzone," Ms Wall, from Greater Manchester, told The Mirror. “Everyone around them was panicking. There were children and babies crying and mothers trying to protect them from the smoke.”
“They noticed it was getting cloudy and they could see a helicopter pouring water over the fire yesterday,” Ms Wall added. “It was getting worse and worse and everyone panicked.
Hannah's daughter Annabelle - the family are stranded in Rhodes airport (Hannah Gormley.)
Terrified guests fled the hotel (Glynis Wall)“Really, Jet2 should have started evacuating then rather than waiting until it was licking at their ankles.” Eileen, Hannah and her daughter were eventually able to get a lift from a good Samaritan to Rhodes Airport, but unfortunately, in the panic, left a handbag with their money in the car.
Ms Wall said the three were now trapped at the airport and hoping to get an emergency flight home. “I don't think the holiday companies appreciate how serious it is,” she added.
“They need to send rescue flights out and get people home. I don't think they'll be wanting to go on holiday again anytime soon.”
The wildfire is the worst of several currently affecting Greece, and was initially contained to mountainous areas inland before strong winds caused it to spread to the populated areas of Kiotari and Lardo.
Eileen and Hannah's hotel caught fire on Saturday (Glynis Wall)Texts were sent to people in four localities urging them to evacuate, with around 200 firefighters currently fighting the blaze with the help of helicopters and planes.
Greek authorities say around 2,000 people have been rescued from beaches by both private boats and vessels sent by the coastguard and army.
A Jet2 spokeswoman told The Mirror: “We are aware of the fast-moving situation in Rhodes, and our in-resort teams are working tirelessly to comply with the guidance of local authorities.
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The wildfire has spread to localities including Kiatori and Lardo (Eurokinissi/AFP via Getty Images)“The health, safety and well-being of our customers will always be our number one priority and we ask any customers in affected areas to follow the advice of the local authorities, as well as their hoteliers, who will be acting under the advice of the authorities.
“In addition to our in-resort team, we have a dedicated team set up in the UK who are working hard to ensure we can do everything we can for customers, including sending direct communications to keep them updated.”
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