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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:
Original poster
strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 22:52

1am local time and they’re finally on a coach - no idea where to yet but at least they’re on the move.

thank you for all your lovely messages xx

OP posts:
Rwebs2811 · 22/07/2023 22:53

Did they tell you about the hotel? We meant to be going next sat

Plicovic · 22/07/2023 22:54

BadgerFacedCoo · 22/07/2023 22:45

Imagine coming on a thread like this and playing make believe.

Maybe next time you can try to imagine leaving the hotel room at some point on your holiday. Work your way up to imagining life if you weren't a moonhowler.

Show quote history

It's incredible isn't it, the idea that you would see flames, smell smoke, panicked voices whatever and first thing you would think would be, mmmm, I'll just wander over to the wardrobe, try and remember the code, tap it in, remove my passports and amble down to reception. It just beggars belief

Original poster
strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 22:55

Rwebs2811 · 22/07/2023 22:53

Did they tell you about the hotel? We meant to be going next sat

no and that was kind of the point of this thread - I was trying to get updates on it to see how likely it is or not that they can retrieve passports.

hopefully you’ll hear something from your tour operator soon x

OP posts:
Plicovic · 22/07/2023 22:55

strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 22:52

1am local time and they’re finally on a coach - no idea where to yet but at least they’re on the move.

thank you for all your lovely messages xx

That's great news OP, you will worried all night obviously but at least you know they're being taken care of 🙏

Womble75 · 22/07/2023 22:56

Rwebs2811 · 22/07/2023 22:53

Did they tell you about the hotel? We meant to be going next sat

We were due there tomorrow - TUI called this evening and told us not to travel. Didn't sound promising tbh

Plicovic · 22/07/2023 22:56

strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 22:55

no and that was kind of the point of this thread - I was trying to get updates on it to see how likely it is or not that they can retrieve passports.

hopefully you’ll hear something from your tour operator soon x

Show quote history

I wouldn't worry too much, sure there will be emergency strategies in place, hardly anyone will have them will they

UndercoverCop · 22/07/2023 22:57

We were at one of the affected hotels a few weeks ago, it was only around 25 degrees then and everything was so dry, it's also a breezy part of the island so I can see how it would change and spread so quickly.
Glad to hear they are ok OP

3luckystars · 22/07/2023 23:00

That’s absolutely awful news. I have stayed in Rhodes and it was lovely. we actually had to leave urgently for a bereavement and the insurance company were terrific, they did everything. I know this is totally different but I just wanted to say how sorry I am that this is happening.
They must all be terrified, I think night time makes everything worse. Hopefully the morning will bring good news and the situation will be a lot better.

AndyMcFlurry · 22/07/2023 23:03

strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 22:52

1am local time and they’re finally on a coach - no idea where to yet but at least they’re on the move.

thank you for all your lovely messages xx

That’s good news. Please try not to worry if you don’t hear from them for a few hours, journeys around the island are taking a long time as some Roads are blocked because of the fire or emergency services.

So it might take a long time to get them somewhere to stay and where they can charge their phones etc. All the hotels elsewhere in the island will be taking in guests and doing everything they possibly can to help your relatives and everyone else affected.

PriamFarrl · 22/07/2023 23:04

As I understand it it’s much easier to get back into your home country without a passport than it is to get into another. I’m sure the embassy will have something sorted. But there are so many other considerations, like car and house keys.

Clymene · 22/07/2023 23:07

Rwebs2811 · 22/07/2023 22:53

Did they tell you about the hotel? We meant to be going next sat

Obviously your holiday next week is a priority to the OP and her familyHmm

Stigsmother · 22/07/2023 23:08

I'm in a Facebook group called Friends of Mitsis Rodos Maris, which is the sister hotel, and on the other side of the road. Seems understandably chaotic, perhaps if you check the Facebook page, I was at the the Rodos Village last year, and at the Rodos Maris before that.

SophiaElizabethGrace · 22/07/2023 23:12

Gosh how worrying for you.

I hope that no one has been hurt - I've not yet read the most recent reports.

People must feel so scared and so vulnerable. Abroad, no belongings, limited contact with family, language barrier, trying to remain calm for your kids etc, it must be horrid.

Clymene · 22/07/2023 23:14

Apparently no one has been hurt. Must be very frightening but sounds like they've organised things well to keep people safe. It can't be easy evacuating an island.

Positive41 · 22/07/2023 23:18

thenightsky · 22/07/2023 22:08

I wouldn't leave my hotel without grabbing everything out of the room safe, which would take like 30 seconds.

What a hero. Unless you are in that situation, you need to hold back with your opinion

WiddlinDiddlin · 22/07/2023 23:19

It will feel awful but the best thing for families/friends who are safe at home, to do, is nothing. Its totally against all our instincts, but it is best to wait until you are asked to do something, or peoples attempts to help end up causing more confusion and making more work for everyone involved.

Hopefully they'll be home soon OP.

BlowDryRat · 22/07/2023 23:20

I'm glad they've been picked up. Hopefully they'll manage a bit of sleep.

neilyoungismyhero · 22/07/2023 23:26

Unless things have changed and to be fair I haven't been on a package holiday for years don't you have to hand your passport in to the reception desk still?

Original poster
strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 23:32

No the passports are in the safe. I’ve recently come back from Spain, the front desk kept our passports for the first 24 hours and then we had them back.

it’s just a nightmare, I’ve just managed to have a decent conversation. It’s 1.30am there and 38 degrees outside. They’ve arrived at a hotel but they’re asking for passport details 🤷‍♀️ but they have a room so they’re going to try and get a bit of sleep now.

OP posts:
Plicovic · 22/07/2023 23:32

neilyoungismyhero · 22/07/2023 23:26

Unless things have changed and to be fair I haven't been on a package holiday for years don't you have to hand your passport in to the reception desk still?

No you don't, they take a copy of the number and then hand it back to you

Plicovic · 22/07/2023 23:33

strawthatbrokethecamelsback · 22/07/2023 23:32

No the passports are in the safe. I’ve recently come back from Spain, the front desk kept our passports for the first 24 hours and then we had them back.

it’s just a nightmare, I’ve just managed to have a decent conversation. It’s 1.30am there and 38 degrees outside. They’ve arrived at a hotel but they’re asking for passport details 🤷‍♀️ but they have a room so they’re going to try and get a bit of sleep now.

Try not to worry, they are safe. 90% of the people aren't going to have any forms of ID on them I'd imagine. At least they are safe

Hibye23289 · 22/07/2023 23:40

Rhodes is where I was born and I have family there, Inow live in the UK, half English, half Greek. It's awful 😔

Flux1 · 22/07/2023 23:41

God that's so tough - especially for people with small kids. God love them. For future reference it's always good to email yourself a copy of passports etc so they can accessed from anywhere. Thankfully it seems noone has been injured and hopefully all will be evacuated home soon. I feel sorry for the locals too. Hopefully hotels etc. have not been damaged so they will not lose their jobs. We got caught up in wildfires in Portugal before. You start out thinking you're overreacting and then when you realise there is a real danger it very scary as you don't know what is the right thing to do.

Clymene · 22/07/2023 23:43

Hibye23289 · 22/07/2023 23:40

Rhodes is where I was born and I have family there, Inow live in the UK, half English, half Greek. It's awful 😔

I'm so sorry. I hope they're all safe.

For all the people who are having their holidays spoiled, this is much, much worse for the people who live on the island. Just devastating

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