Tour operators dumped us in Rhodes despite knowing about wildfires, claim terrified Brits as inferno continues to rage
STRANDED Brits angrily accused tour operators of dumping them in Rhodes while knowing it was being ravaged by forest fires.
Up to 10,000 are still waiting for news after wildfires engulfed their hotels on the Greek holiday island — with Corfu the latest to evacuate tourists.
Some have spent more than 48 hours in makeshift evacuation centres hastily set up as the inferno spread along the south coast.
Mercy flights began to bring them home yesterday — with more expected today.
But holidaymakers slammed airlines and travel firms for flying them out in the first place.
Mum Jane Allen, 49, flew from Manchester with package group TUI on Saturday evening — as thousands on the island were ordered to flee.
She said: “We landed in Rhodes to utter chaos and were told our villa had been evacuated.
“They knew what we were flying into, how serious it was. How could they?”
Company director Mark Tonks, 57, said: “Why the hell were we allowed to take off when they knew what was unfolding?”
They spoke out as The Sun toured the charred remains of luxury beachfront hotels British holidaymakers fled from on Saturday.
The kids’ play area at the Princess Andriana resort was reduced to burnt timber and twisted metal.
Stephen Banks, 38, who was evacuated from the hotel with wife Naomi, 44, and their two kids, Charli and Sienna, said he was shocked at how fast the fire spread.
Last night, after arriving home in Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, he said: “Thank God we got out when we did. I can’t begin to put into words how frightening it was, not just for us but the children.”
Naomi, 44, added: “Our room overlooked the kids’ area — that’s how close it came to us. We were told to run as fast as we could. We left all our luggage behind.”
Before and after pictures from the Lindos Imperial hotel showed the devastation caused by the fire.
Glystra’s huge beach bar — a short distance from Kiotari — was a mangled mess of metal and smouldering wood.
A local 19-year-old woman called Edisa said: “For the tourists, it was a terrifying experience, but for us, it’s worse because we live here. Everything is burned.” Kyriakos Sarikas, a hotel boss in Lindos, said: “It’s like a biblical catastrophe.”
The Sun witnessed the carnage along the coastline — as the UK Government faced calls to advise against “all but essential travel to Rhodes”. Roadblocks were set up by Greek cops as the fires continued to rage. We were given special permission to capture the impact of the wildfire — which saw 19,000 displaced in hours.
As we drove south, we stopped at a viewing point overlooking the village of Malonas.
Dozens of locals stood aghast as plumes of dense black smoke drifted from the mountains beyond. Helicopters and planes worked in relay to douse the flames with sea water.
Gusts of wind — fanning the flames — whipped up the gravel beneath our feet.
We continued on into the valley and beyond and watched heroic firefighters battling the flames — and volunteers being ferried to and from the blaze on pick-up trucks.
Electrical wires hung loosely from burned telegraph poles. Lampposts were twisted by the intensity of the blaze. Burnt out cars and dead mountain goats littered the roadside, while rescuers managed to save some rabbits and other wildlife. Fire alarms at gutted coffee shops were still ringing out as the smoke hit the back of our throats.
One cop at a roadblock said: “The winds are changing the direction of the fire all of the time.”
As power cuts plunged parts of the island into darkness last night, Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned there were “three difficult days ahead” before temperatures are expected to drop.
Last night, TUI said it had cancelled all flights to Rhodes until Friday. Those evacuated accused the firm of “abandoning” them. Holidaymakers were asked to decide if they wanted to stay in the slim chance they could continue their holidays — or add their name to a list to be repatriated.
One who chose to go home said she received a text to say a bus would take her to the airport. The message arrived at 1.56am — 16 minutes after the transport had left.
A Rapid Deployment Team from the Foreign Office is now on the ground as Brits head to the airport in a desperate bid to get a flight.
Those lucky enough to get home on mercy flights described the rescue effort as a “free-for-all” as they landed at Gatwick. Last night, The Association of British Travel Agents said: “We understand some resorts have had their evacuation order removed by the Greek authorities and people have been advised they can return to the resorts of Lindos, Pefkos and Kalathos.”
Coach operator National Express is offering free travel to Greek holidaymakers repatriated to a different airport from which they departed.
Boss Chris Hardy said: “This is the least we can do to help.”
THE NEED TO KNOW ON FLIGHTS TO GREECE
By Lisa Minot
THE Rhodes fires have seen tens of thousands of tourists stranded or fleeing flames.
The fearful scenes will have had a huge impact on those due to visit the island.
And news that Corfu and now Crete are also ablaze will be causing extra worry.
Q: I am due to visit Rhodes this week with a tour firm — what is the situation?
A: Jet2 has cancelled all trips to Rhodes until Sunday, and affected customers will receive a full refund or re-booking. Meanwhile, TUI has cancelled all trips until Friday and until Sunday for those visiting hotels in the affected region. EasyJet has also cancelled all package holidays until today.
Q: What if I booked my trip independently?
A: British Airways is running a full schedule to Rhodes but offers customers the chance to amend their bookings or postpone them free of charge. Ryanair is running flights as normal and anyone not wishing to travel will lose their money.
Q: Now Corfu has wildfires impacting tourist destinations, what if I am travelling there?
A: On Sunday, TUI told customers going to four hotels near the fires not to travel, but to contact the firm to discuss their options. As yet, other tour operators have not cancelled trips.
Q: I am going to Greece soon but the fires are a worry — can I cancel and get my money back?
A: Unless the Government issues official advice warning against all but essential travel to the areas affected, you would lose your money if you choose not to go on holiday.
Your safety is a priority
By James Cleverly, Foreign Secretary
I WANTED to let Sun readers and others whose holiday has been ruined by fires know that I really feel for you.
Our top priority is making sure you are safe. We’ve been speaking to the Greeks to make sure that’s happening.
We also want to ensure the airlines and travel firms are doing what they can to get you home without fuss.
We’ve got people helping out Brits at the airport and I’ve got my team in the UK working round the clock.