24 July 2023 , 08:19
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UK travel agents have issued advice and a warning to holidaymakers due to head out to Greek islands that have been devastated by wildfires.
The Travel Association - best known as ABTA - has issued comprehensive advice following the devastating wildfires on Rhodes and Corfu which began last week.
Anyone due to travel imminently to the areas affected should wait to hear from their travel company, and monitor the information being communicated by their travel company about the wildfires.
There have been some cancellations by some companies for trips with immediate departures, although not all travel firms and airlines have stopped servicing the islands.
Have you been impacted by the wildfires? Email [email protected]
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A firefighter tries to put out a wildfire in Asklipio village, on Rhodes island (Aristidis Vafeiadakis/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)Your rights if you find yourself in that position will vary depending on if they have booked a package holiday or if they have booked the elements of their trip independently.
If your holiday has been cancelled you will be offered an alternative holiday or a refund for the cost of the package holiday.
If you booked your holiday arrangements separately and your flight has been cancelled, you should be entitled to a refund for your flight.
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You will then need to look at the terms of the conditions for your other bookings such as accommodation and transport, and you may also want to look at your travel insurance policy, according to ABTA.
Travel firms and airlines may be inundated by requests from customers this week, so make sure to regularly check their websites and social media feeds to any advice updates.
An ABTA spokesperson said: "We are supporting ABTA members who have customers affected by the wildfires in Rhodes, and are in close contact with the UK and Greek authorities.
"The safety of customers is the number one priority and ABTA members are working hard to support those customers affected. Holidaymakers have been evacuated to a number of locations and ABTA members are communicating with their customers about next steps.
"We continue to advise holidaymakers who have been affected by the fires to follow the advice of the local authorities and their travel company.
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"If you are imminently due to travel to Rhodes in the coming days, please look out for updates from your holiday company or airline. We are aware of some cancellations – your rights will vary depending on whether you have booked a package holiday or the different elements of your holiday separately."
It's worth noting that a number of travel firms including TUI, easyJet and Jet2 have been cancelling flights and holidays, and issuing refunds; if a firm cancels your trip, you're automatically entitled to getting your money back.
Those in the affected areas in Rhodes should be being supported by the UK's FCDO as well as local authorities and their travel companies, according to ABTA. This includes being helped if their passports are missing.
The huge wildfires has led to a mass evacuation from the island (Aristidis Vafeiadakis/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock) The Greek authorities have provided three phone lines that holidaymakers can call to speak with the Crisis Management centre that is handling the wildfires in Rhodes, these are:
0030 210 3681730
0030 210 3681259
0030 210 3681350
If you have a medical emergency or require medication which you no longer have on you, holidaymakers should call 112.
All customers on holiday in the region are advised to monitor news reports and follow any advice or instructions issued by the local authorities, their travel company or their accommodation providers.
The wildfires caused devastation and panic on Rhodes over the weekend, with frantic British holidaymakers wading into the sea to flee infernos, as hotels burned down and firefighters desperately tried to stop the flames spreading.
Others, many with children and dressed only in beachwear, had to walk miles in scorching heat after being evacuated from popular resorts.
Families told how they had lost everything as the wildfires ripped through the Greek island in scenes described as apocalyptic - as tonight a second Greek island, Corfu, has seen evacuations and danger to life warnings issued.
Around 19,000 people have so far been evacuated as authorities launched the biggest rescue mission in Greece’s history.