Brits forced to sleep on airport baggage belt as storm shuts down holiday island
Stranded holidaymakers have been left to sleep on baggage conveyor belts after ferocious storms claimed lives and grounded flights.
The death toll from severe rainstorms that have lashed parts of Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria has increased to nine today after rescue teams located the bodies of a missing tourist who was swept away by floodwaters that raged through a campsite in Turkey and of another person in Greece.
A flash flood at the campsite near the border with Bulgaria carried away bungalow homes. Hundreds of houses and workplaces in several neighbourhoods in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, were also inundated during Tuesday's storms.
At least five people died, three at the campsite and two in Istanbul, authorities said. Rescuers were still searching for three people reported missing at the campsite.
The south east of the mainland in Greece has been battered by rains (HATZIPOLITIS NICOLAOS/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)The ferocity of Storm Daniel has led to streets on the Greek island of Skiathos turning into rivers, washing cars away and forcing residents and visitors alike to shelter indoors. Some holidaymakers have been told to stay inside for days for their own safety.
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UK-bound flights from the Greek island have been cancelled, as have several services going the other way. Would-be passengers are currently stuck inside Skiathos Airport waiting to be flown home. They are unlikely to get aboard a plane before tomorrow.
Photographer Andrew Callaghan found himself stuck in the airport. He filmed exhausted looking customers strewn across the metal chairs and lying on the floor. "Horrendous scenes. We’re currently in the airport, been locked in for over 12 hours and no flights out until Thursday. It’s surreal," he explained.
"The roads are closed and the power is out in most of the town apparently. There’s food and water in the airport. The rain has stopped but it’s blowing a gale now."
The airport's departure boards show a handful of delayed planes due to arrive and depart from there today, and multiple cancelled services.
Mateo de Santis also posted a video from the airport last night, showing people lying on the luggage belts seemingly asleep. He claimed that he had been stuck in the travel hub for 29 hours waiting to get home.
Police banned traffic on the resort island last night, with streams overflowing their banks and water sweeping cars into the sea. Jet2 said all its flights due to depart the island on Tuesday and Wednesday - five in total - have been cancelled.
The airline said it was monitoring the forecast and will confirm new departure times as soon as possible. Four flights scheduled from the UK to the Island on Wednesday have also been cancelled.
On Monday, a flight from London Stansted to Skiathos was diverted to the mainland city of Thessaloniki because of the weather, where customers were provided with hotel accommodation until they can be returned to the UK.
In a statement to affected customers posted on its website, Jet2 said: "We are sorry to inform you that due to the current and forecasted weather affecting the Island of Skiathos, we have delayed your flight.
"The heavy rainfall and thunderstorms are continuing to effect Skiathos, this is part of an adverse weather phenomenon named Storm Daniel. We are monitoring the forecast and will confirm your new departure time as soon as the forecast allows.
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"We understand how frustrating this situation is, but please be assured that our dedicated UK-based Operations Team are working tirelessly to ensure we get you back to the UK, when it is safe to do so.
"We know that this is not the news you would like to hear, however, the safety and well-being of all our customers and crew is paramount. Whilst in destination, please continue to follow the advice of the Local Authority."
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