Bridget and Robert Davidson travelled to Rhodes for their first holiday in four years
By Matt Fox & Niall Glynn
BBC News NI
A Northern Ireland couple on the Greek island of Rhodes have described the “emotional and frightening” experience of being evacuated from their wildfire-threatened hotel.
Bridget Davidson and her husband Robert escaped from the flames on foot.
“It was very scary, we could feel the heat of the fire behind us,” she told BBC News NI.
She said hotel staff gave them towels soaked in water as they moved out of the hotel and down the shoreline.
Reports suggest about 19,000 people have been evacuated from their accommodation by land and sea.
The island has been battling wildfires fanned by strong winds since Tuesday while temperatures have remained high due to the ongoing heatwave in Europe.
A number of tour operators have cancelled all flights to the island.
Image source, Reuters
Many tourists have been staying at makeshift accommodation after being moved from their hotels and homes
Earlier, another Northern Ireland couple on honeymoon, Lee and Rosaleen Ruane, told BBC News NI they had been moved from a beach by the Greek army after being evacuated from their hotel.
Greece’s fire service has apologised and warned the situation could get worse.
‘It was very scary’
Mrs Davidson and her husband, from Bangor, County Down, had travelled to Kiotari in Rhodes for their first holiday in four years.
“The hotel staff came down with towels soaked in water and told us to put them on and move as quickly as we could across the shoreline, which we did,” she said.
“The smoke started to blow in our direction, burning our eyes and burning our throats.”
A boat eventually arrived to take the couple and other tourists to safety but she said there was a clamour to get on board.
“It was every man for himself. You were pushed, you were shoved,” she added.
Image source, Reuters
Tourists being evacuated onto boats near Lindos on the island of Rhodes
“A very, very nice hotel owner took pity on us when we arrived on a boat this morning and gave us a room – no charge whatsoever.
“The local Greek people have been absolutely amazing.
“All we have are the clothes we left with and our phones and passports.
“We are due to fly home on Tuesday. We have no tickets, we left them in the hotel room.”
‘A honeymoon we won’t forget’
Mr Ruane and his wife arrived on Rhodes on Tuesday from Warrenpoint, County Down – they were due to stay for a week.
They were evacuated from their hotel on Saturday afternoon and were on a beach with thousands of others, where they had been “led to believe” their hotel had caught fire.
“We’ve had no communication whatsoever from Jet2 (their tour operator), from our hotel, nothing,” he said on Saturday evening.
Image source, Lee Ruane
Lee and Rosaleen Ruane on the island of Rhodes before the wildfires struck
“It’s a honeymoon we won’t forget, that’s for sure,” he said.
On Sunday, he told BBC News NI they had been moved from the beach by Greek soldiers in the early hours.
He said it had been “getting quite scary” on the beach.
They were eventually taken to a community hall with mattresses and bedding on the top end of the island away from the fires.
Image source, Lee Ruane
Lee Ruane sent this image showing the chaos caused by the wildfires
Mr Ruane said he felt much safer now, but had no idea how long they would be there.
Connie Woods, an 18-year-old from Northern Ireland, said her family slept on chairs on a school after receiving a UK government alert telling them to evacuate their resort in Pefkos.
She said locals had provided food, water and medical assistance.
Image source, Connie Woods
Connie Woods said her family slept on chairs on a school after receiving a UK government alert telling them to evacuate their resort in Pefkos
Ms Woods told the BBC she expected to sleep in the school for another night but that there was “a lack of communication”.
“We have family from Ireland updating us on what’s going on, we’re oblivious.”
Flights cancellations and disruption
Holiday company Jet2 said all flights to Rhodes up to and including next Sunday have been cancelled, but planes would still bring tourists back home from the island.
TUI has cancelled all flights to Rhodes until Wednesday and said a small number of its hotels had been affected and it was relocating customers to alternative accommodation as a precaution.
It said passengers due to travel on Wednesday will be offered a “fee free amend to another holiday or the option to cancel for a full refund”.
It added that “those customers currently on holiday elsewhere in Rhodes will return on their scheduled flights”.
EasyJet said flights were operating as normal, but package holidays to the island were cancelled until Wednesday. Ryanair said flights to Rhodes were still running and not affected by the wildfires.
Watch: Thousands evacuate as wildfires spread across Rhodes
A spokesperson for Belfast International Airport said the next flights due from Rhodes were on Tuesday and Wednesday and there was no disruption as of yet.
The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it was “closely monitoring the fires and evacuations in Rhodes”.
“British nationals affected should follow advice of the emergency services. Staff are available to provide consular support 24/7.
“Call the Greek Emergency Services on 112 if you are in immediate danger.”
It advises anyone due to travel to Rhodes to “please check with your travel operator or hotel prior to travel that the area you plan to visit is not impacted by the current wildfires”.
The Irish Embassy in Athens has advised all citizens affected by the wildfires to turn on their mobile roaming to receive any alerts from local authorities.
No injuries have been reported, according to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Greece.
It also said areas affected by the fires represent less than 10% of the island’s tourist accommodation and that visitors being moved are being redirected to other hotels on the island.
