Is it safe to travel to Greece amid new forest fires? Are there any travel restrictions for Athens?
- Everything you need to know about the latest travel advice for Greece amid the fires
Beaches around Athens have been evacuated as Greek firefighters and water bomb planes tried to tackle a brutal forest fire threatening much of southern Greece.
The latest fire broke out in the central region of Boeotia, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) north of Athens, rescue services said, as several southern European countries continue to battle wildfires amid scorching temperatures this summer. .
That fire has already claimed one life: a herdsman who tried to save his cattle but couldn’t escape, according to firefighters.
But is it safe to travel to Greece amid the new forest fires? Are there any travel restrictions for Athens?
Read below for everything you need to know about the latest travel tips for Greece.
A firefighter operates during a forest fire near the northeastern city of Alexandroupolis, Greece, Sunday, August 20, 2023.
Is it safe to travel to Greece?
The UK government has not updated its travel advice for Greece in light of the bushfires currently raging in the country, with no international restrictions in place regarding travel.
As a result, you can still travel to Greece, which is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe for British tourists.
Currently, no disruptions have been reported at Greek airports, which have not experienced delays in arrival or departure flights due to the wildfires.
If you are in or near an area affected by wildfires, you should follow the instructions of the emergency services.
If you are in immediate danger, call the Greek emergency services on 112.
Civil protection authorities warned of an “extreme” fire risk in the region around Athens and other parts of southern Greece, while fires continued out of control for a third day in northeastern Greece near the port city. from Alexandroupolis.
In July 2023, some 20,000 people, mostly tourists, had to be evacuated from the island of Rhodes after a fire broke out, fanned by strong winds.
Almost 17,770 hectares (more than 43,000 acres) were devastated in 10 days in the south of the holiday island in the southeastern Aegean Sea.
In late July, Greece experienced its worst heatwave in a July month, with temperatures in excess of 40 degrees Celsius (over 104 Fahrenheit) in many places, according to the Athens National Observatory.
It comes as Tenerife continues to battle its own forest fires that police believe were started deliberately.
A firefighting helicopter operates during a forest fire near the city of Alexandroupolis, Thrace, in northern Greece, on Sunday, August 20, 2023.
What should I do if my flight is cancelled?
If your flight is cancelled, you have several different options.
You are legally entitled to a full refund, which includes other airline flights that you will not use in the same booking, such as connecting or return flights.
You are also entitled to a replacement flight to reach your destination.
If your canceled flight delays you by two hours or more, you have a legal right to help with costs.
If the replacement flight you have been offered has delayed you by two hours or more and you have received less than two weeks’ notice, you are legally entitled to compensation.
