'My daughter fled for her life in wildfires - Gove's comment is a total insult'
A mum whose terror-stricken daughter told her she "wasn't going to make it" in the Rhodes wildfires has hit out at Michael Gove for describing evacuations as "unfortunate".
Repatriation flights continued throughout today, as holidaymakers spoke of their "traumatic" experiences, being evacuated from hotels and sleeping in schools, airports and sports centres.
One Brit, Jean, told how her daughter, son-in-law and two young granddaughters were among those fleeing for their lives.
The family were evacuated from two hotels and forced to walk 10 miles, while sobbing down the phone: "We’re not going to make it".
However, the Housing Secretary has insisted the region is safe for tourists despite fire concerns - and said he plans to holiday on a Greek island next week.
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He denied that the Foreign Office has taken too relaxed an approach by not issuing advice not to go, and said the fact that "particular" parts of Rhodes needed to be evacuated was "unfortunate".
Reacting to his comments, Jean told the Mirror: "It is a total insult. I am absolutely appalled and angry by his apparent complete lack of understanding of the trauma experienced by those who had to flee and of their families back home in England.
Smoke seen in the sky above the family's hotel (Supplied)
They were evacuated from two hotels and forced to walk 10 miles (Supplied)"I just can't believe that he could say that - I'm gobsmacked and think he needs to apologise quite honestly, and acknowledge how bad it was for people there.
"When I heard the word 'unfortunate' I was just in utter disbelief that he could say something like that. It's completely insensitive and shows a complete disconnection with what was happening out there.
"And that doesn't give me any confidence whatsoever in believing that there is some form of proper procedure or emergency major incident plan to deal with something of this magnitude. I don't believe its there, and if it is they need to review it."
Jean's family arrived at the Greek village of Kiotari in the early hours of Saturday, and were initially advised to stay in their hotel, but felt uneasy as the sky turned red and ash began falling.
A short time later, police rushed in and told everyone to get on the beach, where they were forced to flee as thick, dark smoke started coming towards them.
Wildfires burn the forests near a village in the southern part of Rhodes (AFP via Getty Images)Jean said: "Walking in the heat for miles and not always knowing if you were walking to safety while seeing the fire and smoke behind you was not 'unfortunate' - it was terrifying, frightening, traumatic and exhausting for everyone, especially young children and older people.
"My daughter, son-in-law and elder granddaughter took it in turns to hold our younger granddaughter who couldn’t walk as fast, and she ended up vomiting by the side of the road with sunstroke."
The family eventually reached a 'safe' hotel, but still felt they were in danger as the fire and smoke was approaching them and there was "no plan whatsoever" on what to do next.
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After that hotel was also evacuated, they decided to take action by going to the airport.
Jean said: "They left their passports behind, and arrived at the airport with just their phones and the clothes on their back. They managed to get temporary passes sorted, and within a few hours they were on a flight."
The family-of-four landed at Stansted Airport the following morning.
Local men fill a tank with water as they battle wildfires in the southern part of Rhodes (AFP via Getty Images)Jean added: "It was a horrific experience for everyone involved, and we all still feel traumatised by it. To hear my girl sobbing at the end of the phone saying 'mum I'm not going to get out of here'... it was the worst day of my life. I just felt so helpless."
Her comments come as Greek authorities battle blazes across the country amid a return of 40C-plus temperatures.
The latest evacuation orders were issued on the islands of Corfu and Evia while a blaze on the island of Rhodes continued to move inland, torching mountainous forest areas, including part of a nature reserve.
Desperate residents, many with wet towels around their necks to stave off the scorching heat, used shovels to beat back flames approaching their homes, while firefighting planes and helicopters resumed water drops at first light.
Authorities said that more than 20,000 people have been involved in evacuations on the island, mostly tourists over the weekend, when fire swept through two coastal areas on the south east of Rhodes.
Meanwhile, Mr Gove told Times Radio: "I'm due to go on holiday, God willing, to Greece in just over a week's time - not to Rhodes but to another island [Evia] - and I'm looking forward to going.
"Greece is a wonderful country, a wonderful place to holiday, and we do need to support the Greek government in dealing with the situation in Rhodes.
"My heart goes out to those who are affected but the advice is clear - if you follow the Foreign Office advice it is safe."
The European Union has sent 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles and seven planes from 10 member states, while Turkey, Israel, Egypt and other countries have also sent help. Contributing nations included Italy which was dealing with its own fires and extreme weather at home.
In Athens, authorities resumed afternoon closing hours at the ancient Acropolis as part of broader measures to cope with the high heat.
EU officials have blamed climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires across the European continent, noting that 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfire damage on record after 2017.
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