Wildfires Rhodes - family stranded

[strawthatbrokethecamelsback]

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?

the embassy/foreign office, would help you

Yes thats another thing isnt it, they've now got a huge long journey, hours and hours and hours, having to call insurance companies to sort the above issues out and might not have any charge, what happens then?

When we had to use a car locksmith we were given a key programmed to the car.

That is just mad not having insurance. I just include it into the cost of the holiday and I’m sure most people are the same.

Im so glad your family are safe. How do they actually manage to control fires so big though in that heat, it must be horrendous.

@ justasking111 · I’m really interested in your post
‘When monarch went bump we were abroad. The British Embassy were brilliant. They arranged buses to take everyone to the airport. They arranged planes to take everyone home. We flew during the night because we had to wait until everyone had gone. Embassy staff were flown out from London to handle the situation. ‘
I’d love to know more about this!!

I hope the situation gets under control and nobody is hurt. It’s just awful, Rhodes is just such a beautiful place. It’s just devastating for them.

The british consulate will already be on it.

FYI hotel is still standing. From what my friends in the area (Pefkos and Lardos) tell me no hotels have been destroyed.

jet2 is now returning people to their hotels in the Pefkos area. Hope that settles your mind somewhat. If you need any help with anything let me know. I’m a cat rescuer and spend a lot of time helping the animals of Rhodes. I have many connections on the island.

Your poor brother. It was totally right not to go back to the hotel room. It would not have taken 30 secs.. Human nature would have meant he tried to collect other important things from the room (chargers/kids favourite teddies/spare clothes anything "precious") which could have cost him his life! If everyone had done it would have been chaotic and people could have died, including those who tried to rescue them. I know you know this, but of course right now he is not thinking straight. As a pp has said the first rule of an evacuation is don't go back in.

Two friends gone up to Laerma - I’ll update for you soon.

It is very helpful to have photos or photocopies of the relevant passport page, it doesn't have to be the entire document.

I've used photocopies in the past to apply for visas etc when they've needed the basic details like full name, passport number, dob etc. And you could leave a copy of the important bits of info with a family member back home who could give them in a phone call. Not perfect but it can help.

Thank goodness your DB did not re-enter the hotel, OP. He's saying that now because he's safe, so he can look back in relative security. But all it would have taken was a shift in wind direction, the slamming of a door ... and it would have been very different.

You are a literal saint.

we were in Lindos last month and the number of “stray” cats is heart breaking. I wanted to take them all home.

there were 3 in our hotel that were the highlight of my holiday, I spent a fortune in meat for them.

obviously making sure everyone is safe is absolute priority but I admit I did think about the poor cats that must be in danger too 🥲

thank you for being so kind and selfless

Your poor brother and his family and those of you at home. Hopefully you will be all reunited soon.

Just watching sky news now and there's a Woman telling her story and it's so very sad listening to her, she said her hotel has burned down. Her dd has autism and hasn't eaten since yesterday. They're sleeping on cardboard boxes on a concrete floor somewhere.

It's just so frightening for everyone, whether you're a holiday maker or you live there.

It's hard for tourists when they couldn't get hold of their tour operator. There will be plans in place to get people home, there will be many many people without documents.

I would assume people will share phone chargers and even phones. You're doing right sorting things at home for them.

I'm glad to hear that your brother and family are safe. In relation to passport numbers did they by any chance register them with TUI? I recently returned from Spain (so maybe different requirements) but on the app 1 if the tasks I had to to do before we went was register our passport information for each person going

The poor cats, wildlife and other animals caught up in this bedlam. :(
As well as all the locals who have had businesses destroyed.

I am due to visit Pefkos in September for the first time. Really looking forward to it.

Thank you for the work you do :)

I'm an ex rep and travel agent, quite a lot don't bother (or only take it out the day before travel)
I had many guests end up in hospital and the bills they had came to thousands

It's also worth getting good insurance, I had a poor lady who had a brain haemorrhage, she had cover but it was really poor, her husband was moved from my hotel to a hostel, he was paying loads of money in enhancements to the basic cover she got

It’s a beautiful place with lovely people. If you’d like any tips of what to do when you’re there let me know.

or if you want a cat 😂

Because you then have the passport number and details which can prove your identity and get you home.

I took a school trip and a pupil lost their passport. We had scanned the passports before we came so this was sufficient to be able to fly back.

People are more likely to have their phones on them.

Update from Jet2.

Obviously this is an extreme event, but we will probably see more such events in future. We take a charged power bank on holiday and take it with us when we go out. We have a key safe at home with a set of spare keys for the house.

Plus by not having the new arrivals, it will free up rooms for those that need to move in resort. Reps are being moved from Kos, Kalymnos and other islands close by to Rhodes too. It’s quite a logistical nightmare, plus there are fewer British reps in resorts now as you need a EU passport. TUI have even fewer staff overseas as they use online support instead of ‘real people’.

Always take a photo of your passports and flight booking and forward details of your insurance policy to someone else. Share it all with those you’re travelling with - it only takes a broken / lost phone and you’ve lost this info.

Leave a house key with a family member, friend or neighbour (even bury one in your garden if needs be). Know where your spare car key is in case someone needs to collect it.

This is just basic stuff that you probably won’t need, but if ever there was a situation that proves it’s useful, this is it.

Such a sad and horrible situation.

‘ukingreece’ is the embassy Twitter profile which has up to date info. Hope OP’s family and others are home safe and soon.

That's really good info from jetstar. Very efficient.

Empty planes are being sent to Rhodes, British consular officials are also preparing to issue emergency travel documents where passports are left in hotels, there's hundreds in that position. Try not to worry, they will be ok, it just takes time to process that many people

This is the wee fella that stole my heart at Caesar’s garden hotel. He was utterly adorable. The friendliest wee thing

I have five Rhodian cats in my house. All make the best companions.

My husband is due to rescue 5 at the beginning of august. Travel permitting.