Greece Wildfires: Is it Safe To Travel?
Wildfires have killed dozens of people in Greece over the last few days, prompting the Foreign Office to urge UK travel-makers to heed the advice of local authorities.
In some of the worst fires seen in Greece since 2007, blazes swept through the coastal resort of Mati, just an hour away from Athens. The fire broke out on Monday on the Peloponnese peninsula, and was still alight on Tuesday.
Few UK tourists are thought to be affected, but anyone impacted by the wildfires should contact the British embassy in Athens, according to guidelines published by the FCO.
The FCO said: “There have been wildfires in a number of areas in southern Greece, including close to Athens. They have been confined to limited areas, but within those the impact has been high, with significant loss of life.
Mati is particularly popular with families and senior travellers.
“You should keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of the Greek authorities in affected areas.”
Despite the proximity to the capital, flights into Athens have been unaffected.
Large tour operators Thomas Cook and Tui say they have few, if any, tourists in the affected zone.
However, ferries coming in and out of the port of Rafina have been affected, due to the damage to the local area. Rafina is the second largest port serving Athens.
A makeshift hospital was set up in the port area of Rafina to deal with casualties.
ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, mirrored UK tour operators by saying the area was little-visited by British holidaymakers. However, they also urged any affected travellers to follow the advice and instructions of local authorities and their tour firms.
I have a holiday to Greece booked, is it safe to go?
You should contact your travel and/or accommodation provider to find out if your travel plans are likely to be impacted.
The affected area is considerable - covering 268,834 hectares, about double the size of London. Greece is prone to forest fires in the summer months, according to the FCO.
Despite the Greek devastation, Portugal, Spain and France have more summer forest fires than Greece. According to 2013 data, there were 862 fires over the year, compared to 19,291 in Portugal.
According to the Greek Civil Protection agency, the peak wildfire season is between May and October. The agency warns: “Never throw away lit cigarettes [and] avoid outdoor activities that may cause fire.”
Can I get a refund on my holiday?
If you simply cancel your trip, it's unlikely you'll get a refund. However, if the holiday is severely impacted by the fires, your operator is obliged to offer alternative arrangements.
The FCO urges all UK travellers to take out comprehensive travel cover for all overseas trips.
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