Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wildfires Rhodes - family stranded

251 replies

strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 21:23

posting here for traffic

my brother & family are stranded in Rhodes. They have been evacuated from Mitsis Rodos Village Beach Hotel & Spa. They have nothing but the clothes on their back. All passports & documents are in the hotel.

just a awful situation for absolutely everyone, locals especially.

we have no information as to whether the hotel has been destroyed or not. If it has we’ll need to think about getting them to the embassy for emergency passports.

The insurance company are on it and are trying to help but we’re having trouble just getting through to them on the phone.

I know this is a massive long shot but does anyone have any local knowledge or any updates of what the situation is?

OP posts:
Toobusytoocare · 22/07/2023 21:26

Am so sorry I cannot help but sending my best wishes to your family. My son is thankfully on a plane due in at Gatwick tonight.

Original poster
strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 21:26

Yes I know it’s in the news

OP posts:
Angryappendix · 22/07/2023 21:27

Are they with a tour operator in that hotel?

noglow · 22/07/2023 21:29

You're probably best looking on twitter

Original poster
strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 21:29

Yes they are with a tour operator but they were ordered out of the hotel at the last minute, were given towels to put over their heads and mouths as the head & smoke were so bad, then just ordered to keep walking down the beach away from the fire.

its carnage and literally thousands of people waiting for buses. I think there is some sort of organisation but last time I managed to speak to them was 9pm (local time) and they were still waiting

OP posts:
User894532765 · 22/07/2023 21:30

Are they with a tour operator, arrangements will be surely made if so

Original poster
strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 21:31

noglow · 22/07/2023 21:29

You're probably best looking on twitter

Ok thanks, off to create a Twitter account 😬

OP posts:
Papernotplastic · 22/07/2023 21:31

They’re with a tour operator. Arrangements will be made. There’s nothing you can do right now from here.

clairea123 · 22/07/2023 21:32

Have you tried contacting the British embassy? Presumably they may look at doing some type of evacuation flights? they were very helpful when a family member had a medical emergency on Crete.

tell your brother to keep every receipt he can (itemised if possible) for everything he has to purchase in the hope he can claim some of the costs back later from the insurance.

the insurance company we had was terrible- I felt like I was basically on my own. I would guess they may well be overwhelmed- I would try and make your own plans if at all possible and try to claim it back later.

Angryappendix · 22/07/2023 21:33

If they’re with a tour operator, arrangements will be being made, it might not feel like it right away but they will have an emergency plan being set up, alternative accommodation or flights home.

Do they have mobile phones? If you are concerned you could find out the 24 hour line number for the tour operator and call them?? Is it TUI?

hiding5675687 · 22/07/2023 21:35

Hoping all stay safe.

Have they got pictures of their passports? If so, can you access these as it may speed up replacements.

do they take any meds - if so, can you notify their doctor that they need an emergency prescription.

User894532765 · 22/07/2023 21:35

I would probably sort out insurance for lost belongings when they get home, when it can be done in a calm manner. The tour operator will be arranging some of the logistics

JayAlfredPrufrock · 22/07/2023 21:38

It’s headline news. I’m sure the tour operator and the embassy will be on the case.

Original poster
strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 21:38

They nearly always travel tui but I have an awful feeling that they booked through Love Holidays this year - does this mean that it’s not a tour operator?

OP posts:
Peekingovertheparapet · 22/07/2023 21:41

You must be so worried! It looks just awful - I was looking at booking that same resort just a few weeks ago. I hope they get out safely!

userxx · 22/07/2023 21:42

strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 21:38

They nearly always travel tui but I have an awful feeling that they booked through Love Holidays this year - does this mean that it’s not a tour operator?

I'm pretty sure they'll be evacuated even if they booked through love holiday.

RoseAndRose · 22/07/2023 21:44

Advice on good sources of information (from FCDO travel advice page)

"There are a number of active wildfires in Greece due to the dry and hot weather. Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly, so you should stay up to date with official advice, follow “112 Greece” on Twitter for official updates (you may need to translate the tweets to English). Ensure emergency alerts are enabled on your phone to receive SMS updates from the Greek Civil Protection. The Civil Protection Authority also publishes a daily map during the high risk period detailing fire risk by area. "

ParisP · 22/07/2023 21:48

Everyone safe by sounds

RoseAndRose · 22/07/2023 21:48

They may need an emergency travel document to gett
back, if they cannot be reunited with their passports

Info on contacting the British Embassy here

British Embassy Athens - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Ponderingwindow · 22/07/2023 21:55

in this type of situation, people make more work for the firefighters and more work for the support teams. It’s more zones to keep safe, more people to keep hydrated and fed, and more potential medical complications. The authorities will be doing everything they can to get as many people out of the area as possible. They want the tourists off that island as much as the tourists want to leave.

I’ve been unlucky enough to have been caught up in wildfires on two holidays. Both times we were able to throw our bags in our cars and evacuate ourselves following directions of the local authorities. We had some issues with smoke inhalation and water access one of those times, but we were never in any real danger. It was a much easier situation than being on an island. Most importantly, we weren’t losing our homes, just our holiday.

ExtraOnions · 22/07/2023 21:56

The Embassy will be aware of the situation already, and will he working with the tour operators. Even if his passport is destroyed, he will still be able to return home, the Embassy has plans in place.

OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 22/07/2023 22:01

Please don’t contact the embassy unless you really need to. In situations like this they will be doing all they can and they don’t need their phones lines clogged up with concerned relativities.

maddiemookins16mum · 22/07/2023 22:06

ExtraOnions · 22/07/2023 21:56

The Embassy will be aware of the situation already, and will he working with the tour operators. Even if his passport is destroyed, he will still be able to return home, the Embassy has plans in place.

100% this. In my distant past, I worked for a Tour Operator and we had various ‘situations’ where people ‘lost’ everything (Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the Tunisia attack to name but three). There will be teams of people at the TOs now working around the clock (I suspect they’ll have implemented their emergency teams). It may be that the’ll do repatriations too on special flights.

Original poster
strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 22:06

Just got an update - it’s midnight local time and they’re still on the side of the road with 100’s of others waiting to be collected or find out what’s happening 😞

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread