Rhodes wildfires: Exhausted tourists pictured at airport after fleeing blaze - 'Living nightmare'
Dramatic pictures from the airport at Rhodes show tourists trying to escape the island.
The first flights are due to arrive on the Greek island to bring back British tourists stranded after being evacuated by wildfires.
Airline easyJet is operating two rescue flights that will have 421 seats on Monday and a third on Tuesday, in an effort to get holidaymakers off the Greek island, while holiday firm Jet2 is also sending empty aircraft to bring back tourists.
It comes after large swathes of the island of Corfu, also popular with British tourists, were also evacuated after fires there on Sunday.
On Monday, foreign office junior minister Andrew Mitchell said there were an estimated 7,000 to 10,000 British tourists on Rhodes.
People evacuated from hotels over the weekend have been sleeping at the airport, in sports halls, conference centres and even on the street.
And as they have fled, testimonies from their time on the island have started to emerge
'Living nightmare'
There have been a number of eyewitness accounts from British tourists caught in Rhodes about the "nightmare" situation.
Dan Jones, a sports teacher from Torquay, Devon, had to climb on to a fishing trawler with his sons on Saturday night, describing it as “the scariest moment” in his life, and adding: “What brave boys.”
His family was forced to wade through the water on to a fishing boat in order to escape.
In a series of updates on social media, he said people had walked for miles through the blistering heat to reach the hotel where his family was staying.
Jones posted a video of smoke-filled skies and giant flames about six miles in the distance, telling holiday provider Tui that "we need some communication".
About three hours later, he shared a picture of his three smiling boys on a boat – with raging fires lighting up the night sky in the background.
Watch: Resorts evacuated as wildfires rage on Rhodes
"We are safe for now. The scariest moment in my entire life. After wading into the sea and climbing on a fishing trawler, we are away from danger," he said.
"I don't know how they'll process this when the dust settles, but what brave boys. Family is everything."
Helen Tonks, a mother-of-six from Cheshire, said she was flown into a “living nightmare” by Tui at 11pm on Saturday only to discover her hotel had been closed.
She said she and her family were “abandoned” and forced to sleep with hundreds of others on a school floor.
Tonks described the decision by airlines to continue their usual service as “inexcusable and negligent – (putting) profit before safety”.
"Why fly us from the UK into Rhodes and living nightmare at 2300 last night, knowing we weren’t safe and our hotel was closed?” she asked Tui.
“Five of us among 100s more slept on a school floor. Locals doing everything, but no sight or sound from you.”
Kevin Evans was evacuated twice with his wife and three young children, including a six-month old baby, on Saturday as the fire rapidly spread.
“We were originally in Kiotari in a villa but were moved to Gennadi at about 2pm," he said.
“There were lots of people in Gennadi sent from the hotels – many in just swimsuits having been told to leave everything in the hotel.
“As night fell, we could see the fire on the top of the hills in Kiotari. They said all the hotels were on fire."
Ian Wakefield told Times Radio he spent the night in a school playground in Faliraki after being moved from his hotel in Pefki.
He said: “It didn’t really feel real – being in imminent danger of being burned to death.
“Between midnight and around 5am this morning we were going through an evacuation which was pretty chaotic.
“There were a lot of upset people and children who were understandably quite hysterical."
A Tui spokeswoman said the firm’s “main priority” was the safety of customers and its staff were doing “all they can” to help those affected by the fires.
Read more eyewitness accounts:
British father recalls 'scariest moment in my life' (Yahoo News UK, 5 mins)
Holidaymakers sleeping on school floors after being evacuated from Rhodes hotels (The Scotsman, 3 mins)
Holidays and flights to Greek island ravaged by fire cancelled (PA Media, 3 mins)
Contact numbers for those trapped in Greece
The Foreign Office said British tourists affected by wildfires should call the Greek emergency services on 112 if they are in "immediate danger".
It also said the Greek government has set up a crisis management unit to respond to the situation in Rhodes, which can be reached on +30 210 368 1730 / +30 210 3681259 / +30 210 3681350.
The Foreign Office said: "In the first instance, please contact your airline or travel operator who can assist you with return travel to the UK.
"If you are planning to travel to any areas affected by wildfires, please check with your travel operator or hotel prior to travel that the area you plan to visit."
British consular assistance is available on +44 20 7008 5000 for 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
easyJet
easyJet is sending two repatriation flights to Rhodes on Monday and one on Tuesday, alongside nine flights still operating between Rhodes and the UK.
Flights are still operating for customers booked to travel to or from Rhodes before 29 July, but customers can change the date of their flight or request a flight voucher.
Any customers wishing to travel back early can contact easyJet’s customer services team on its dedicated line for customers in Rhodes - 44 (0) 330 5515147.
Jet2
Jet2 has cancelled all flights and holidays due to depart to Rhodes up to and including 30 July.
Aircraft will be flown to Rhodes with no customers onboard, so they can bring customers on the island back to the UK.
The company said it would be contacting customers to arrange refunds or rebookings.
If calling from the UK about an existing booking, you can contact Jet2 on 0333 300 0042, if calling from another country it's +44 (0) 203 059 8336.
Tui
On Monday, travel operator Tui confirmed that holidaymakers returned to the UK on “three dedicated flights” overnight, with plans to bring more back “as soon as possible” in place.
Tui has cancelled all flights and holidays to Rhodes up to and including Tuesday 25 July, with passengers receiving full refunds.
Those due to travel on Wednesday 26 July can amend to another holiday or cancel free of charge.
To contact Tui while away, call +4420 38 303 111 or text 80247.
Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook cancelled all holidays to Kiotari and Lardos – the areas of Rhodes most at risk – up to and including 31 July, and said it would be in touch to offer full refunds.
Those on holiday can WhatsApp Thomas Cook on +447360543297 or call the support team on +44 (0) 20 8016 3297.
British Airways
British Airways said it was still operating flights to Rhodes as normal.
However, customers on the island needing to come home early can change their return flight free of charge, and anyone travelling out from the UK in the next week can postpone their flight to a later date.
They can contact BA's 24-hour helpline on +44 208 707 4463 or email duty.office@holidays.ba.com or text +44 786 002 2933 while they're away.
Watch: Government says tour operators are engaged in Rhodes evacuation
