Several forest fires have been raging on Rhodes for more than a week. In the largest evacuation operation in the history of Greece, around 20,000 people from the southeast of the island were brought to safety. Firefighting planes and helicopters were deployed on Monday morning to contain the fires, according to civil defense. Nevertheless, the situation is “dynamic and difficult,” said the spokesman for the fire brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Vasileios Vathrakogiannis, at a press conference.
The great fire on Rhodes has been raging for almost a week. He had erupted on a mountain in the center of the island. Five helicopters and around 200 firefighters were deployed to fight the fire.
Hotels and vacation rentals in the regions of Asklipio, Kiotari, Laerma, Lindos, Theologos, Gennadi, Vati and Eleousa are also affected.
It’s on fire here in Corfu
In Corfu, the evacuation of the popular holiday resort of Nisaki began on Monday night. Coast Guard boats brought around 1,000 vacationers and residents to safety, as reported by the state television station ERT News.
Most of the tourists spent the night in a theater of Corfu Town. The danger is now over and people should gradually return to their hotels, the local state radio station reported on Monday.
Where it is now becoming dangerous for vacationers
Large fires were reported on Monday morning on the Peloponnese peninsula near the small port town of Egion. There, too, numerous villages were evacuated. The train connection between Diakopto and the town of Kalavryta in the Peloponnese region is interrupted, as confirmed by “Hellenic Train” at the request of FOCUS online. The route is particularly popular with tourists as it passes through the scenic Vouraikos Gorge.
Large fires were also reported on Monday morning on the island of Evia, near Karystos, and on the Peloponnese peninsula near the small port town of Egion. The resorts affected are Livadi, Potami, Pernaraki, Platanistos, Kastri and Platis Gialos.
No one has been injured so far, the emergency services said.
Where will “Red Alert” apply for the next few days?
On Rhodes, “red alert” applies up to and including Monday, as well as in some regions of the Peloponnese and around Athens.
There is an increased risk of forest fires (orange) on the island of Crete and throughout the Aegean.
The current forest fire situation in Greece see here.
People are eagerly awaiting the coming Thursday. The temperatures are then expected to drop from 40 to 45 degrees for the first time in almost two weeks to around 35, which is normal for the season. On Sunday, 46.4 degrees were measured in the south of the Peloponnese peninsula. According to the Meteorological Office, this is the fourth highest temperature ever measured in Greece.
Before it cools down, there will be one last hot day with up to 46 degrees on Wednesday, weather experts say. The cooling will be the result of strong north winds. The civil protection warned again: Because of these strong winds, forest fires could get out of control again.
Can I cancel my holiday free of charge?
In principle, package holidaymakers have the right to cancel without fees if their trip is foreseeably significantly affected by unavoidable, extraordinary circumstances. A fire near the hotel with ash and smoke in the air would be such a reason, says lawyer Roosbeh Karimi from Berlin.
Individual travelers could not rely on canceling free of charge.
If the trip only starts in a few weeks, there is no right to free cancellation, even for package holidaymakers. Karimi advises canceling at short notice if necessary. Because it should not be possible to predict with certainty when the fires will be extinguished.
Already affected by the fire? That applies to your vacation
More than 20,000 people have been evacuated in the past few days, the Greek news agency APE/MPA reports.
According to Nicole Bahn from the Bremen consumer advice center, if the problems only arise during the trip on a package holiday, there are two options: Contract quit and travel home or reduce the travel price.
The German Embassy in Athens can be reached by German vacationers in the Fire Region on the telephone number: 0030 693 23 381 53 (on-call service) and 0030 210 72 85 111 (information).
At the same time, a crisis unit was set up. You can reach them on 0030 210 36 81 259 and on the telephone number 0030 210 36 81 350.
How can I cancel my trip – or reduce the price?
The best way for holidaymakers to terminate the contract is to contact their tour operator by telephone. He then has to clarify how and from where the return journey takes place. The phone call is considered a resignation. The question of how this journey home is secured must also be clarified. In addition, the consumer advocate recommends holidaymakers for their own safety to confirm the cancellation of the trip by e-mail.
If vacationers still want to stay in the region, option two applies. Then the travel price may be reduced. This is as soon as individual travel services such as transport, meals and accommodation no longer correspond to the booked standard.
The following applies to individual travelers (according to German law): You do not have to pay for the services already booked, such as flight and accommodation, if they are not provided.