As a result of forest fires on the Greek island of Kos, over 100 Belgian tourists were evacuated from their hotels on Monday as a precautionary measure, announced tour operators Tui and Sunweb.
Over 100 Belgian Tui and Sunweb clients were evacuated from their hotel in Kardamaina, a resort on the southern coast of Kos. The tourists were accommodated in a football stadium.
"The Greek authorities decided to evacuate hotels because of a fire that was further fuelled by the wind," Tui spokesperson Piet Demeyere told Belga News Agency. "The hotels themselves were never in danger, but the access road to Kardamaina could have posed a risk."
Raging wildfires, fueled by strong winds, have been tearing across the Greek island of Kos since Sunday, escalating dramatically on Monday... Tourists and residents are being evacuated, with public buildings serving as shelters. pic.twitter.com/gXAHTCt0TT
— Greek City Times (@greekcitytimes) July 2, 2024
Sunweb and Tui report that the situation returned to normal on Tuesday morning: everyone was able to return to their hotels. They also stressed that the safety of tourists was never at risk.
Sunweb did cancel the bookings of several dozen Belgian tourists who were due to leave for Kardamaina on Tuesday due to the fire. "They can now choose whether to get their money back or book another holiday," said spokesperson Martine Langerak.
Dozens of fires
Forest fires have also occurred in several other places in Greece, such as on the island of Chios. Nearly 150 firefighters are trying to extinguish the fire there with three helicopters and seven firefighting planes. Five firefighters have been injured in the process.
Dozens of fires broke out in Greece last weekend, including two near Athens. A 45-year-old man who tried to flee the fire in Stamata has died, reportedly from a heart attack. Houses and vehicles also went up in flames. On Monday, the fire brigade reported that the fires around Athens were under control.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned that the country is facing a "dangerous" summer due to the risk of wildfires. Greece experienced its mildest winter ever and is now hit by its earliest heatwave ever, with temperatures reaching 44°C in early June.