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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:
bellac11 · 24/07/2023 07:15

Cailin66 · 24/07/2023 06:57

Why were flights from the UK still landing into Rhodes yesterday?

To pick people up and take them home

Efacsen · 24/07/2023 07:16

Cailin66 · 24/07/2023 06:57

Why were flights from the UK still landing into Rhodes yesterday?

A variety of reasons - some are empty for re-patriations, some are for tourists still wanting to holiday in un-affected parts of the island, some for people travelling for non-tourist reasons and keeping Rhodes in contact with the rest of the world etc etc

Some planes not from the UK are carrying fire-fighters and other disaster management personnel

Glsmiley · 24/07/2023 08:22

Hi

Sorry to hear this. We were in same hotel, evacuated on Saturday and since returned home to UK. We left with nothing except the beachwear we were wearing and luckily enough we did have our passports. My advice would be for them is to just get themselves to Rhodes airport and take it from there. There we people we spoke to without passports but managed to sort something out at the airport and get on our flight. The whole experience was absolutely horrific. We were meant to be flying home tomorrow with easy jet, they were very unhelpful at the airport we were left to sort things out ourselves. Managed to get ourselves on an easyJet flight which we were told was going to Gatwick (we should of been returning to Manchester) but then told once boarded they could only take us to Athens. Once we got to Athens easy jet there again were very unhelpful so ended up speaking to jet 2 who were fantastic and got us on a flight back to Manchester yesterday afternoon. They told us that all flights coming into Rhodes have been cancelled and instead operators sending their empty planes to the airport to get their customers off the island asap. Maybe could get in touch with their tour company? Have read this morning some operators are putting on extra flights next couple of days too. We returned home in just our swimwear we left in. All our stuff is still in the hotel room. I hope your family get sorted soon

Drenchend · 24/07/2023 08:26

@Glsmiley

Jet 2 flew you home for free? Inspite of not being a jet 2 customer?

That's wondeful.

Drenchend · 24/07/2023 08:28

@Glsmiley

What an ordeal.. And in swimmer wear.

It's a miracle no one has said anyone has died.
Even from smoke.
It must feel amazing to be back.

Glsmiley · 24/07/2023 08:31

Not for free we had to pay. We had no other option because easyJet could not help us.

Drenchend · 24/07/2023 08:32

Ryan Air still waiting foe head officers guidance??

The airlines and tour operators need to be investigated and hauled over the coals for this where they have abandoned their customers.

StillWantingADog · 24/07/2023 08:32

Glsmiley · 24/07/2023 08:31

Not for free we had to pay. We had no other option because easyJet could not help us.

How atrocious.

when you feel up to it send Easyjet the bill.

PriamFarrl · 24/07/2023 08:37

Glsmiley · 24/07/2023 08:22

Hi

Sorry to hear this. We were in same hotel, evacuated on Saturday and since returned home to UK. We left with nothing except the beachwear we were wearing and luckily enough we did have our passports. My advice would be for them is to just get themselves to Rhodes airport and take it from there. There we people we spoke to without passports but managed to sort something out at the airport and get on our flight. The whole experience was absolutely horrific. We were meant to be flying home tomorrow with easy jet, they were very unhelpful at the airport we were left to sort things out ourselves. Managed to get ourselves on an easyJet flight which we were told was going to Gatwick (we should of been returning to Manchester) but then told once boarded they could only take us to Athens. Once we got to Athens easy jet there again were very unhelpful so ended up speaking to jet 2 who were fantastic and got us on a flight back to Manchester yesterday afternoon. They told us that all flights coming into Rhodes have been cancelled and instead operators sending their empty planes to the airport to get their customers off the island asap. Maybe could get in touch with their tour company? Have read this morning some operators are putting on extra flights next couple of days too. We returned home in just our swimwear we left in. All our stuff is still in the hotel room. I hope your family get sorted soon

You poor soul. That all sounds horrendous but the idea of doing it all in just swimwear makes it even worse.

Willmafrockfit · 24/07/2023 10:23

@Glsmiley
did the airport in england give you blankets

Glsmiley · 24/07/2023 11:01

No nothing. Another passenger gave us a towel for one of my daughter's to cover up and someone else a jacket for my other daughter. Airports were no help

Efacsen · 24/07/2023 11:09

Glsmiley · 24/07/2023 11:01

No nothing. Another passenger gave us a towel for one of my daughter's to cover up and someone else a jacket for my other daughter. Airports were no help

That's awful @Glsmiley that no-one helped you

Years ago transitting Heathrow there were a dozen or so passengers in beachwear/sundresses/shorts - returning survivors from the Boxing Day Tsunami

No-one had helped them either - in the middle of winter too

DyslexicPoster · 24/07/2023 11:36

Efacsen · 24/07/2023 11:09

That's awful @Glsmiley that no-one helped you

Years ago transitting Heathrow there were a dozen or so passengers in beachwear/sundresses/shorts - returning survivors from the Boxing Day Tsunami

No-one had helped them either - in the middle of winter too

Show quote history

God that's so depressing. I can't imagine not getting a tshirt out of my case to a child or woman. It just adds to the trama. Like the nightmare your naked in public but it's real and no one wants to help.

coxesorangepippin · 24/07/2023 14:03

It's absolutely bloody dispicable that these holiday companies can't even give people clothing - makes me never want to go on a package holiday again!!

CaptainMyCaptain · 24/07/2023 14:05

coxesorangepippin · 24/07/2023 14:03

It's absolutely bloody dispicable that these holiday companies can't even give people clothing - makes me never want to go on a package holiday again!!

I don't see how they can be held responsible for distributing clothing.

Drenchend · 24/07/2023 14:09

Some flights are also carrying customers and they are going straight into evacuated centers, with no vitals.

RedToothBrush · 24/07/2023 14:10

CaptainMyCaptain · 24/07/2023 14:05

I don't see how they can be held responsible for distributing clothing.

Show quote history

Quite.

Where do these emergency clothes come from at short notice? Why is the airport liable for this cost? They can't just store clothes on site.

Unrealistic expectations there imho.

That's for government to step in and do.

Efacsen · 24/07/2023 14:14

It's usually the Red Cross who provide in these emergencies

WeAreTheHeroes · 24/07/2023 14:23

If you were evacuated to Rhodes town, like the OP, there are places there you could get clothes before going to the airport. This was an emergency situation and the poster, not the OP, chose to try to return before they were scheduled to do so.

RampantIvy · 24/07/2023 14:31

WeAreTheHeroes · 24/07/2023 14:23

If you were evacuated to Rhodes town, like the OP, there are places there you could get clothes before going to the airport. This was an emergency situation and the poster, not the OP, chose to try to return before they were scheduled to do so.

Assuming you have a deb it card or money on you.

Drenchend · 24/07/2023 14:42

How would you'be able to buy or get clothes

LosingTheBelly · 24/07/2023 14:44

How to buy or get clothes... if everyone in the area (including shop owners and suppliers) are being evacuated too?

A mass evacuation is not a put on amusement just for tourists. Everything shuts down.

coxesorangepippin · 25/07/2023 01:46

You think it's reasonable for someone to have to spend two days in only a swim suit and then fly home in it?? Really?

LosingTheBelly · 25/07/2023 06:33

Was that to me? No of course it is not reasonable. But it may be the reality. If an area has been evacuated then that includes shop owners, residents etc. There may not BE anywhere to buy clothes is my point.

Efacsen · 25/07/2023 07:37

coxesorangepippin · 25/07/2023 01:46

You think it's reasonable for someone to have to spend two days in only a swim suit and then fly home in it?? Really?

What is 'reasonable' in a disaster inevitably gets pretty stretched and contributes to the suffering of those caught up in it

The Red Cross emergency humanitarian team were there very promptly on Saturday with all their experience and access to emergency stocks of water, food,
medication, clothing etc

And of course the immense generosity of the Greek people