Greece fires – live: Red alert for Crete as British tourists in ‘living nightmare’ on Rhodes and Corfu

Crete has been placed under the highest warning level as fears grow the island could be the next victim of raging wildfires in Greece.

It comes as up to 10,000 British tourists are feared to be on the fire-ravaged Greek island of Rhodes, a minister has warned, as one holidaymaker who arrived to find their hotel had burnt down described the situation as a “living nightmare”.

Around 2,500 people have already been evacuated from Corfu, fire officials said, which is experiencing dozens of wildfires, after the blaze in Rhodes prompted “the biggest evacuation” in Greek history.

Footage showed flames engulfing Corfu as smoke and orange haze covered the night skies. The fire broke out on the northern part of the island which is popular with British tourists. Those in Santa, Megoula, Porta, Palia Perithia and Sinies were told to evacuate to Kasiopi.

The evacuation order came after Jet2 and Tui cancelled all flights to Rhodes until Friday 28 July.

Fires burning since Wednesday on Rhodes forced the evacuation of 19,000 people over the weekend as an inferno reached coastal resorts on the island’s southeastern coast.

Key Points

• Up to 10,000 British tourists on Rhodes due to ‘peak holiday season'

• Around 2,500 people evacuated from Corfu

• After Rhodes and Corfu, evacuations also begin in Evia

• Tourists fleeing Rhodes inferno spend second night in airport

• 59 people evacuated from Corfu by sea

• Chilling satellite image shows scale of wildfires in Rhodes

Chilling satellite image shows scale of wildfires in Rhodes

12:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

This satellite image shows the area affected by wildfires in Rhodes, Greece on Sunday.

An eruption of wildfires has forced the “biggest evacuation in Greek history” as around 2,500 have been evacuated from Corfu.

Weather forecast for Greece as wildfires rage and second heatwave hits

15:28 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Below we take a look at the Greek weather forecast for the upcoming days as wildfires have ravaged the country:

Weather forecast for Greece as wildfires rage and second heatwave hits

Tui gives update

14:57 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A Tui spokesperson said: “Our teams in Rhodes have been working tirelessly to support customers impacted by the wildfires in south-eastern parts of the island and three dedicated flights brought our first customers safely back to the UK overnight.

“We have reps in all evacuation centres and we’re aiming to get more people home from the affected areas as soon as we can.

“We appreciate how distressing and difficult it’s been for those who have been evacuated and ask that they continue to follow the advice of the local authorities and keep in touch with our teams.

“We have cancelled all outbound flights to Rhodes up to and including Friday 28th July, and have also cancelled all outbound flights for customers travelling to impacted hotels up to and including on Sunday 30th July.

“All customers due to travel on these flights will receive full refunds.

“Passengers due to travel to areas not affected by fires on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July will be offered a fee free amend to another holiday or the option to cancel for a full refund. We are still operating empty outbound flights to bring those customers currently on holiday elsewhere in Rhodes home as planned and working to get those in affected areas as soon as possible.

“The safety and well-being of our customers and teams remains our top priority.”

Where are the fires in Corfu and Rhodes? Map reveals Greece wildfires

14:34 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Thousands of people have been evacuated from towns and villages across Greece after wildfires ravaged the country.

Videos of roaring fires and towering black smoke have circulated online from Rhodes and Corfu. However, wildfires have erupted across several areas including Evia and the Peloponnese region.

Firefighters battled against 82 wildfires across the country overnight, forcing the “biggest evacuation” in the country’s history.

Where are the fires in Corfu and Rhodes? Map reveals Greece wildfires

Firefighters give water to rabbit rescued from Rhodes wildfire

14:17 , Andy Gregory

Romanian firefighters have been pictured giving water to a rabbit saved from a wildfire burning on the island of Rhodes.

‘We would never have come’: British tourist lands in Rhodes to find hotel burnt down

14:11 , Andy Gregory

Helen Tonks, a mother-of-six from Cheshire, said she was flown into a “living nightmare” by Tui at 11pm on Saturday and discovered her hotel had been closed.

She told The Sun newspaper: “We landed and were told ‘Sorry, you can’t go to your hotel – it’s burned down’.

“We had no idea the fires were this bad or as close to the hotels as they were. Tui said nothing, not even when our flight was delayed. Even the captain’s chat on the plane was upbeat.

“We would never have come if we had known.”

Satellite images show Rhodes wildfires from above

13:50 , Andy Gregory

Satellite images taken by the firm Maxar Technologies shows an aerial view of the smoke rising from Rhodes:

Tourists should view Greek wildfires as a ‘big, big warning’, says leading UK climate expert

13:32 , Andy Gregory

Tourists planning trips to the Mediterranean should see the Greek wildfires as a “big, big warning”, one of the UK’s leading climate scientists has said.

Sir David King, former UK chief scientific adviser and chair of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, said many people will die from heat stress because of the relentless heatwaves over southern Europe, where millions of Britons travel on holiday each year.

Speaking to the PA news agency from another Greek island, Sir David warned tourists to take care in the heat, adding that he has “no doubt” that the extreme temperatures are due to melting ice in the Arctic caused by greenhouse gases emitted by people heating the Earth’s atmosphere.

He said: “If you are in one of these very warm areas and you haven’t got air conditioning indoors you could suffer terribly – many people will die from heat stress.

“You must have moving air – it makes an enormous difference. If there’s a large fan, preferentially a roof fan, that is moving the air in the room ... because moving the air helps to remove the perspiration from your body and keeps you cooler.

“I wouldn’t be too dogmatic about advice but, certainly, there’s a big, big warning this summer. To anyone planning to go overseas for the summer, ‘Be very careful’ would be my advice.”

Downing Street defends not discouraging Britons from going to Rhodes

13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Downing Street has defended not discouraging Britons from going to Rhodes after it sent a Foreign Office team to help holidaymakers amid fires.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Our advice is focused on the safety of British nationals and enabling people to make an informed decision about the situation on the ground.

“The current situation is impacting on a limited area in Rhodes and whilst it’s right to keep it under review and it’s possible that the advice may change we do not want to act out of proportion to the situation on the ground.”

He said there are “not currently” plans to get the RAF to help people leave.

‘Like a disaster movie’: Brit family in Corfu describe holiday horror and escape plan

12:39 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A British family was forced to flee in the middle of the night as the wildfires ravaging parts of Greece broke out in Corfu on Sunday evening and came within metres of their holiday home.

Rebecca Bell, 50, of Sheffield, was among those who received an evacuation order via a text message overnight as dozens of blazes erupted on the western island, with more than 2,000 people moved to safety.

“It did feel like the end of the world yesterday,” she told The Independent from the village of Sinies, describing the intensity of the heat, “banks of flames” cascading down the hillside, and a “yellow glow of fire” in the sky.

‘Like a disaster movie’: Brit family in Corfu describe holiday horror and escape plan

Simon Calder: BA and easyJet still selling flights to Rhodes despite wildfires

12:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder has said it is extraordinary that a number of flights to Rhodes are still scheduled today, despite widlfires ravaging the Greek island.

Tourists have been forced to flee for their safety following the devastating fires, but some flights will still take off carrying British passengers to Rhodes today. The travel journalist also revealed many people with holidays booked are still travelling to Rhodes as normal, despite the warnings.

Jet2 has this morning announced it will operate three repatriation flights from Rhodes to bring customers back to the UK. The additional services are on top of the 50 plus scheduled flights operating between Rhodes and the UK up until Sunday.

Simon Calder: BA and easyJet still selling flights to Rhodes despite wildfires

German government convenes crisis meeting over Rhodes wildfires

12:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The German government is to convene a crisis meeting on Monday to discuss the impact of wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes on German holidaymakers, according to a foreign ministry spokesperson.

Speaking during a regular news conference in Berlin, the spokesperson said the crisis meeting at 1100 GMT will allow the German government to “coordinate with our colleagues on the ground and then decide on possible further measures”.

An interior ministry spokesperson said that German federal police and fire fighters were already assisting Greek authorities in bringing affected people back to the mainland.

Fires burning since Wednesday have forced tens of thousands of tourists and residents to flee the island, with many evacuated on private boats as flames threatened resorts and coastal villages.

In pictures: Fire rages in Rhodes

12:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Pictures show flames burning on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece.

Jet2 adds more flights to bring Britons back from Rhodes

11:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

British travel company Jet2 said it would operate three extra flights on Monday night to bring more of its customers back to the United Kingdom, after wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes left them stranded after they evacuated hotels.

Jet2 said repatriation flights to Manchester, Leeds Bradford and Birmingham would bring about 600 people home, on top of 50 Rhodes to UK services it already has scheduled this week.

The company said it was also flying out more staff to help assist customers who had to flee their resorts and are now camped out in evacuation centres or waiting at the airport.

“We have a significantly expanded presence in Rhodes, with a huge team of experienced colleagues providing all the support we can for our customers,” Jet2 said in a statement on Monday.

There are about 7,000-10,000 Britons on Rhodes currently, according to a junior minister, and like Jet2, TUI and easyJet, are both putting on additional services.

EasyJet said it would have two repatriation flights on Monday and another on Tuesday, on top of its usual schedule of departures, and would keep under review whether it needed to add more.

Firefighters battle to contain 82 wildfires burning across Greece

11:05 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Firefighters struggled through the night to contain 82 wildfires across Greece, 64 of which started on Sunday, the hottest day of the summer so far.

Their efforts were without the help of firefighting planes and helicopters, which do not operate at night.

The most serious fire was on the island of Rhodes.

Some 19,000 people had been evacuated from several locations on the island as wildfires burned for a sixth day, Greek authorities said.

Greece wildfires: Holiday and travel advice as Jet2 and Tui flights cancelled amid extreme weather

10:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

UK airlines are continuing to sell flights for immediate departure from the UK to Rhodes despite the wildfires that have seen thousands of tourists evacuated from the island.

Holiday firms Jet2, the UK’s biggest tour operator, and Tui both announced on Sunday they would be cancelling all imminent flights and holidays to Rhodes and offering refunds because of the fires, which have been raging on the Greek island for six days.

But other airlines are continuing to offer seats on flights to Rhodes, and the travel firm Thomas Cook says most of its customers booked to travel ion Sunday and Monday are travelling as normal.

Holiday and flights advice as flights to Greece cancelled amid wildfires

Between 7,000 and 10,000 Britons currently on Rhodes, minister says

09:57 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Foreign office minister Andrew Mitchell has confirmed there are between 7,000 and 10,000 Britons currently in Rhodes.

Asked why the government is not telling holidaymakers to avoid the island, he stressed that only 10 per cent of Rhodes is affected by the fires.

“And therefore it is the tourist companies and the holiday experts who are best placed to give guidance on whether or not a family or individuals’ holidays are going to be ruined by these events,” he told Times Radio.

But, asked if he would go on holiday there at the moment, he said: “I think I probably wouldn’t. But the point is that if I had booked a holiday I would take advice and would also take advice from the tour operator.”

Asked about the government’s response, Mr Mitchell said: “We deployed immediately a rapid forward team of six experts from the British Foreign Office, as well as four Red Cross operators as well.”

And he said the British teams were being “sympathetic and supportive” of those without the necessary documentation, who may have lost passports or other files fleeing the fires.

British tourist evacuated twice

09:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

British tourist Kevin Evans was evacuated twice on Saturday with his wife and three young children - first from Kiotari to Gennadi, then as the fire approached the island’s capital in the northeast, he told the PA news agency.

“There were lots of people in Gennadi sent from the hotels - many in just swimsuits having been told to leave everything in the hotel,” he told PA.

“As night fell, we could see the fire on the top of the hills in Kiotari. They said all the hotels were on fire.”

Rhodes travel agent Stelios Kotiadis told the Associated Press the evacuation was hasty.

“There was panic. ... The authorities were overwhelmed,” he said.

But, he said, the abandoned hotels “are in much better condition than reported in social media. ... They will be ready to reopen very soon if Civil Protection gives the go-ahead”.

Mr Kotiadis said he and other travel agents sent buses to the island’s southeast to pick up evacuated tourists.

They had to go the long way around because the road running down Rhodes’ eastern side was blocked in places.

“There were 80 to 90 people cramming into 50-seater buses,” he said.

He added that 90% of the evacuated tourists are from European countries.

Tui gives update for tourists in Rhodes

09:06 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Travel firm Tui has said holidaymakers have returned to the UK from Rhodes on “three dedicated flights”.

It said in a statement: “We’re now working hard to get everybody home safely, with our first passengers returning to the UK on three dedicated flights overnight and plans in place to get everyone affected back as soon as possible.

“We appreciate how distressing and difficult it’s been for those who have been evacuated and ask that they continue to follow the advice of the local authorities and keep in touch with the Tui reps who are present in all evacuation centres. Our teams will be contacting customers with any updates as soon as they can.

“We have cancelled all outbound flights to Rhodes up to and including Tuesday, and passengers due to travel on these flights will receive full refunds.

“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.

“We are still operating flights to bring those customers currently on holiday elsewhere in Rhodes home as planned.

“The safety and wellbeing of our customers and teams remains our top priority.”

Tourists forces to walk for miles to reach safety

08:43 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

In Rhodes, some holidaymakers said they walked for miles in scorching heat to reach safety. The fires left blackened trees and dead animals lay in the road near burnt-out cars.

Many tourists spent the night on the airport floor, waiting for repatriation flights. “It was quite a bit of a struggle on the beach with the smoke,” said John Hope, a tourist from Manchester, England.

Tour operators Jet2, TUI and Corendon cancelled flights leaving for Rhodes. Britain’s easyJet said on Sunday it was operating two repatriation flights on Monday from Rhodes to London’s Gatwick airport in addition to the nine flights already operating between the island and Gatwick.

The airline said it will add another repatriation flight on Tuesday.

Ryanair said on Sunday its flights to and from Rhodes were operating as normal. Its Chief Financial Officer Neil Sorahan said the airline was monitoring the situation on Monday.

“We have a lot of customers there who want to get home. We’re not going to leave them behind so we’ll travel back in and out,” he said.

“It’s not necessary at this period in time (to put on more flights), we’re letting people book onto earlier flights.”

Watch: Rhodes tourists sleep on airport floor awaiting evacuation

08:37 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Tourists fleeing wildfires in Rhodes were forced to sleep on the floor for a second night in a row as they waited for evacuation flights.

British tourists describe fleeing for their lives from Rhodes wildfire: ‘It was hell on earth’

08:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A mother who says she experienced “hell on earth” was among the British tourists forced to flee Rhodes this weekend as fierce wildfires continue to rip through the Greek holiday island.

Officials on the island, which sits southwest of Turkey in the Aegean Sea, launched Greece’s biggest-ever evacuation operation as the blaze tore through vast swathes of land, threatening resorts popular with holidaymakers.

Tourists were forced to shelter in schools, sports stadiums, airports and alternative hotels as firefighters desperately fought to contain the flames, which officials fear may worsen on Monday as wind speeds more than double on the island.

‘It was hell on earth’: British tourists describe fleeing Rhodes wildfire inferno

Wildfires force tourists in Rhodes to flee

08:18 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Wildfires burned across Greece on Monday, forcing people to be evacuated from a beach on the island of Corfu while tourists crowded an airport on Rhodes after thousands fled hotels and resorts at the weekend.

Fires burning since Wednesday on Rhodes forced the evacuation of 19,000 people over the weekend as an inferno reached coastal resorts on the island’s southeastern coast.

Rhodes and Corfu are among Greece’s top destinations for tourists mainly from Britain and Germany.

“We are in the seventh day of the fire and it hasn’t been controlled,” Rhodes Deputy Mayor Konstantinos Taraslias told state broadcaster ERT.

Around 2,500 people evacuated from Corfu

08:05 , Stuti Mishra

Around 2,500 individuals have been successfully evacuated from Corfu, the Greek fire service has said, as evacuations continue in three islands.

Yannis Artopios, a spokesperson for the fire department, said some 2,466 people have been evacuated overnight, according to AFP news agency.

No houses or hotels have been impacted evacuated so far, he said.

59 people evacuated from Corfu by sea

07:53 , Stuti Mishra

Sea evacuations have begun from Greece's Corfu to move individuals fleeing wildfires out of the island.

Around 59 people were evacuated from Nissaki beach on the northwest coast, the Greek Coast Guard has said.

The evacuation was carried out using six coast guard vessels and nine private vessels.

Tourists fleeing Rhodes inferno spend second night in airport

07:50 , Stuti Mishra

Thousands of tourists and residents fleeing wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes took refuge in shelters and slept in airports, with many evacuated on private boats as flames threatened resorts and coastal villages.

Evacuations also begin in Evia

07:31 , Stuti Mishra

Another Greek Island, Evia, has started evacuating people as more wildfires erupted after Corfu and Rhodes

Authorities told residents of four southern villages to evacuate to the town of Karystos.

Central Greece vice-governor Giorgos Kelaiditis, who was near one of the villages, told state agency ANA-MPA that the situation was difficult, according to The Guardian.

“The fire may be 2km away, but the wind is strong, the growth is low, the smoke thick and the air is hard to breathe,” he said.

UK airlines still selling tickets to Rhodes despite wildfire inferno

07:10 , Stuti Mishra

UK airlines are continuing to sell flights for immediate departure from the UK to Rhodes despite the wildfires that have seen thousands of tourists evacuated from the island.

Holiday firms Jet2, the UK’s biggest tour operator, and Tui both announced on Sunday they would be cancelling all imminent flights and holidays to Rhodes and offering refunds because of the fires, which have been raging on the Greek island for six days.

But other airlines are continuing to offer seats on flights to Rhodes, and the travel firm Thomas Cook says most of its customers booked to travel ion Sunday and Monday are travelling as normal.

Our travel correspondent Simon Calder has more:

UK airlines still selling tickets to Rhodes despite wildfire inferno

Video shows night sky turning orange as fires burn in Corfu

06:53 , Stuti Mishra

A video of Corfu wildfires shows a line of wildfire burning in Corfu, turning the night sky orange.

Live: View of Rhodes airport where tourists are waiting to be evacuated

06:30 , Stuti Mishra

Greece continues to swelter at 40C and above temperatures

06:15 , Stuti Mishra

The weather remained hot in Greece yesterday. A total of 180 locations experienced temperatures of 40C and above.

The highest reading, 46.4C, was reached at the seaside town of Gytheio in southern Greece.

Slight respite is expected on Monday with highs of 38C forecast by the country’s Meteorological Service.

However, Tuesday is expected to heat up once again - before things significantly cool on Thursday, with temperatures expected in the low- to mid-30s.

Dozens more fires erupt in Greece

06:00 , Stuti Mishra

Firefighters struggled through the night to contain 82 wildfires across Greece, 64 of which started yesterday, the hottest day of the summer so far.

Their efforts were without the help of firefighting planes and helicopters, which do not operate at night.

The most serious fire was on the island of Rhodes. Some 19,000 people had been evacuated from several locations on the island earlier in the what was called “the largest evacuation from wildfires in the country”.

First repatriation flights to arrive in Rhodes to rescue British holidaymakers

05:34 , Stuti Mishra

The first repatriation flights are due to arrive on fire-ravaged Rhodes to rescue British holidaymakers stuck in a “living nightmare”.

Airline easyJet will operate two rescue flights totalling 421 seats today and a third tomorrow, in addition to its nine scheduled flights to the Greek island.

It comes after authorities began evacuating large swathes of the island of Corfu, which is also popular with British holidaymakers after fires spread there on Sunday.

Read more:

First repatriation flights due to arrive on fire-ravaged Rhodes

Hundreds of EU fire fighters are supporting the Greek effort

03:20 , Nick Ferris

There are substantial reinforcements from the European Union supporting Greece’s fire-fighting efforts, including hundreds of firefighters.

“Over 450 firefighters and seven airplanes from the EU have been operating in Greece as fires sprout across the country,” EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic tweeted early Sunday afternoon.

Overnight, firefighters are continuing to tackle 82 wildfires currently raging across the country.

Several injuries reported on Rhodes on Sunday

02:40 , Nick Ferris

Several injuries have been reported among those fleeing the forest fire on Rhodes on Sunday.

Six people were briefly treated at a hospital for respiratory problems, but have since been released.

Meanwhile, a person who fell and broke a leg during a hotel evacuation and a pregnant woman remained hospitalized, the latter in good condition, authorities said.

ICYMI: Tourists describe scenes in Rhodes as “hell on earth”

02:00 , Nick Ferris

A British tourist has described the scenes in Rhodes as “hell on earth” as wildfires continued to tear through the Greek holiday destination for a sixth consecutive day on Sunday.

Becky Mulligan, a 29-year-old training manager from Leicester, was staying at the Princess Sun Hotel in the Kiotari resort on Rhodes’s southeast coast when she, her daughter, 5 and sister, 20 say they were forced to flee.

“Smoke started coming up against the window of the hotel so we decided to run,” she told The Independent. “There were helicopters hovering above making the whole building shake.

“We ended up legging it down a dirt track as the smoke came up around our legs. I thought I was going to die. It was like hell on earth”.

Slight temperature respite expected on Monday in Greece

01:20 , Nick Ferris

The weather remained hot in Greece on Sunday, with a total of 180 locations experiencing temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius (104 F) and above.

A relative respite from the heat is expected on Monday, with highs of 38 C (100 F) forecast, said the country’s Meteorological Service on Sunday evening.

Tuesday is expected to heat up once again - before things signficantly cool on Thursday, with temperatures expected in the low- to mid-30s Celsius.

Efforts to tackle 82 fires impacted by lack of helicopters at night

Monday 24 July 2023 00:41 , Nick Ferris

Firefighters are struggling through Sunday night to contain 82 wildfires across Greece, reports AP.

But ongoing efforts are without the help of firefighting planes and helicopters, which do not operate at night.

The most serious fire in Greece remains on the island of Rhodes, where some 19,000 people have now been evacuated.

Local police said 16,000 people were evacuated by land and 3,000 by sea from 12 villages and several hotels.

64 fires broke out across Greece on Sunday

Monday 24 July 2023 00:01 , Nick Ferris

Some 64 wildfires broke out aross Greece on Sunday, with the most serious reported on Evia, Greece’s second- largest island, where authorities have told residents of four southern villages to evacuate.

Central Greece Vice Governor Giorgos Kelaiditis, who was near one of the villages, told state agency ANA-MPA that the situation is difficult:“The fire may be 2 kilometers away, but the wind is strong, the growth is low, the smoke thick and the air is hard to breathe,” he said.Northern Evia was devastated by wildfires in August 2021.Other fires requiring evacuations broke out on the northeast side of the island of Corfu, as well as in the northern Peloponnese, near the town of Aigio.

A fire that broke out west of the important archaeological site of Epidaurus has now been partly contained, the Fire Service said.

Ursula von der Leyen has called the Greek PM to offer her support

Sunday 23 July 2023 23:20 , Nick Ferris

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to offer her support.

In a statement on Twitter, von der Leyen said: “I called @KMitsotakis to express our full support for Greece, which is confronted with devastating forest fires and a heavy heat wave due to climate change.

“Greece is handling this difficult situation with professionalism, putting emphasis on safely evacuating thousands of tourists, and can always count on European solidarity.”

She added that “EU firefighters are already on the ground”.

2.5 million tourists visited Rhodes last year, with July and August peak season

Sunday 23 July 2023 22:40 , Nick Ferris

The scale of the rescue operation ongoing in Rhodes is the result of the island becoming an ever more popular holiday destination in the Mediterranean.

More thsan 2.5 million people visited the island in 2022, up from 1.4 million the previous year, and surpassing the 2.3 million that visited during the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

With a population of about 125,000 people, Rhodes has grown to become one of the country’s most popular islands for tourists, known for its sun-drenched beaches and historic sites.

The old medieval town of Rhodes is home to a citadel, one of the finest examples of Gothic defensive architecture, and a well-preserved castle, the Palace of the Grand Master. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

In the southeast of the island - near where the current forest fires are burning - the small fishing village of Lindos attracts tourists with its hilltop medieval fortress and ancient acropolis.

Pictured: Tourists wait to be evacuated from Rhodes airport

Sunday 23 July 2023 22:00 , Nick Ferris

Here are the latest pictures of tourists waiting for departing planes at the airport, after being evacuated following a wildfire on the island of Rhodes.

Some 19,000 people have been evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires continued burning for a sixth day on three fronts, Greek authorities said on Sunday.

Pope Francis calls on leaders to “protect our common home” following global heatwaves

Sunday 23 July 2023 21:20 , Nick Ferris

Pope Francis has called on leaders to “protect our common home”, as he lamented the “extreme climatic events” currently onging around the world.

As well as the devastating fires in Rhodes, countries including Italy, Spain and the US have been hit by searing heatwaves in recent days.

Scientists have attributed these weather events to climate change.

“Many countries are experiencing extreme climatic events”, said the pope.

“I reiterate my appeal to the leaders of Nations, that something more tangible be done to limit polluting emissions: it is an urgent challenge and affects everyone. Let us protect our common home!”

Greek authorities issue evacuation orders for parts of Corfu

Sunday 23 July 2023 21:13 , Holly Bancroft

Greek authorities have issued evacuation orders for parts of Corfu due to wildfires, after fires forced thousands to flee homes and hotels on the island of Rhodes.

A Foreign Office team has arrived on Rhodes to help with evacuations

Sunday 23 July 2023 20:40 , Nick Ferris

A UK Foreign Office Rapid Deployment Team (RDT) has arrived on the Greek island to help with evacuations from the fire-ravaged island, confirmed a Foreign Office spokesperson.

As of sunday evening, officials estimated that around 19,000 people have been taken by land and sea from the island as a six-day wildfire continues to rage.

The Foreign Office said that the RDT would help with “assisting with emergency travel documents” and “liaising with travel operators & Greek authorities”.

EasyJet to send repatriation flights to rescue holidaymakers from Rhodes

Sunday 23 July 2023 20:00 , Nick Ferris

Airline easyJet will operate repatriation flights to bring British holidaymakers home from fire-ravaged Rhodes.

The budget airline announced it will operate two rescue flights on Monday and a third on Tuesday.

An easyJet spokesperson said: “We know the situation for many currently in Rhodes is very difficult so we are doing all we can to help customers and provide assistance.

“EasyJet will be operating two repatriation flights tomorrow from Rhodes to Gatwick using an A320 and an A321 aircraft totalling 421 additional seats.

“This is in addition to the nine flights we already have operating between Rhodes and the UK.

“We will also operate a further repatriation flight on Tuesday and continue to keep under review if additional repatriation flights are needed.

“Any easyJet flight-only customers who have been evacuated from their hotel and are currently at the airport should contact easyJet’s airport staff.”

Pictured: Tourists and residents evacuate from affected areas in Rhodes

Sunday 23 July 2023 19:23 , Holly Bancroft

Here are the latest pictures of the evacuation of tourists and residents from the Greek island of Rhodes:

Evacuees wait to board on buses as they leave their hotel during a forest fire on the island of Rhodes. Some 19,000 people have been evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires continued burning for a sixth day on three fronts, Greek authorities said on Sunday.

Tourists wait for departing planes at the airport, after being evacuated following a wildfire on the island of Rhodes

Holidaymakers criticise tour operators for not acting fast enough

Sunday 23 July 2023 18:38 , Holly Bancroft

Lowri Jones from Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales, described scenes of “chaos” at Rhodes Airport when she arrived there on Saturday night. The mother of one, 52, travelled to the Greek island with her thirteen year-old-daughter for a holiday.

“It was absolute pandemonium at the airport, with long queues of people trying to find out what coach they were,” she told The Independent. “We booked with Tui and there has been very little communication from them.

“We had been due to stay at the Atlantica Dreams hotel in Gennadi but were driven - without warning - to a completely different resort in the north of the island due to the wildfires.”

A spokesperson for Tui said it is continuing to monitor the wildfires and appreciated the “distressing and difficult” situation for its customers.

Anyone who remains in Rhodes is urged “follow the advice of the local authorities who are managing tourist movements in impacted areas,” they said.

Tourists spend the night in a school playground

Sunday 23 July 2023 18:16 , Holly Bancroft

Ian Wakefield told Times Radio he spent the night in a school playground in Faliraki after being evacuated 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. It was all very confusing – the instructions from the hotel manager were unclear.

“You had to make your own choice in the end. I’ve had to leave quite a lot of luggage in the hotel.”

‘It was hell on earth’: British tourists describe fleeing for their lives from Rhodes wildfire

Sunday 23 July 2023 17:45 , Holly Bancroft

A mother who says she experienced “hell on earth” was among the British tourists forced to flee Rhodes this weekend as fierce wildfires continue to rip through the Greek holiday island.

Officials on the island, which sits southwest of Turkey in the Aegean Sea, launched Greece’s biggest-ever evacuation operation as the blaze tore through vast swathes of land, threatening resorts popular with holidaymakers.

Becky Mulligan, a 29-year-old training manager from Leicester, was staying at the Princess Sun Hotel in the Kiotari resort on Rhodes’s southeast coast when she, her five-year-old daughter, and sister, 20, were forced to quickly pack their bags and flee as the sky turned “orange”.

“Smoke started coming up against the window of the hotel so we decided to run,” she told The Independent. “There were helicopters hovering above making the whole building shake.

“We ended up legging it down a dirt track as the smoke came up around our legs. I thought I was going to die. It was like hell on earth.”

Read the full story here:

‘It was hell on earth’: British tourists describe fleeing Rhodes wildfire inferno

In pictures: Devastation caused by wildfires in Rhodes

Sunday 23 July 2023 17:10 , Martha Mchardy

Tourists stranded in Rhodes say they were sent to beach for boats that didn’t arrive

Sunday 23 July 2023 16:55 , Martha Mchardy

Tourists have complained that they are stranded in Rhodes as they wait for transport to evacuate them.

British holidaymaker Chris Freestone said TUI had not put on enough coaches for the 800 people at Labranda, the hotel he was staying at, and guests were sent several times to the beach to wait for boats that didn’t arrive.

“The smoke was coming. So we all set off on foot. I walked 12 miles in this heat yesterday. It took me four hours,” said Freestone from a sports hall where evacuees lay on mattresses in the island’s principal city, Rhodes Town, which was unaffected by the fires further south.

‘All the hotels were on fire,' says tourist as 19,000 evacuated

Sunday 23 July 2023 16:40 , Martha Mchardy

Police on Rhodes said 16,000 have been evacuated by land and 3,000 by sea from 12 villages and several hotels.

Six people were briefly taken to hospital with respiratory problems and were later released.

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.

The family is now stranded in Rhodes town without accommodation and “no information from the authorities”.

Mr Evans told the PA news agency: “We’ve got three children with us including a six-month old so getting a bit panicky.

“We were originally in Kiotari in a villa but were moved to Gennadi at about 2pm.

“There were lots of people in Gennadi sent from the hotels – many in just swimsuits having been told to leave everything in the hotel.

“It got very crowded but we managed to get into a hotel in Gennadi with a room for the children and mums while the rest of us slept in the lobby.

“As night fell, we could see the fire on the top of the hills in Kiotari. They said all the hotels were on fire.

“About midnight the fire started moving onto our side of the hill. The alerts were going off again but not to everyone at once with some people telling us to stay put and others receiving messages to evacuate.

“We left at midnight with the fire very big and close. The roads were closed but we drove the long way round the island to get to Rhodes Town.”

Meanwhile, Thanasis Virinis, a vice mayor of Rhodes, told Mega television on Sunday that between 4,000 and 5,000 people were in temporary accommodation, calling for donations of essentials such as mattresses and bedclothes.

Evacuees took to hotels, conference centres and school buildings, where they were given food, water and medical assistance, authorities said.

One pregnant woman and another person were hospitalized, fire brigade spokesperson Ioannis Artopoios said.

Watch: Smoke turns sky dull and hazy as wildfires continue to rage in Greece

Sunday 23 July 2023 16:25 , Martha Mchardy

Which airlines have cancelled flights to Rhodes?

Sunday 23 July 2023 16:07 , Martha Mchardy

Jet2 Holidays cancelled all flights to the island until July 30 and said it would send empty planes to bring stranded Britons home, while Tui said it would cancel all flights and holidays until Tuesday.

Thomas Cook later announced it had cancelled all holidays to Kiotari and Lardos – the areas of the island most at risk – until July 31 and would be in touch with customers to arrange “swift refunds”.

It has also offered full refunds to customers due to depart for other parts of the island on Sunday and Monday who wish to cancel their trip.

British Airways said that, while it was still operating flights to Rhodes, anyone due to fly there in the next week could postpone their trip free of charge, while those already there could fly back earlier.

Meanwhile, fellow travel firm easyJet confirmed on Twitter that its flights would continue as normal.

The British ambassador to Greece said the Foreign Office had sent a “rapid deployment team” to help UK tourists who were among thousands forced to flee for their lives on Saturday as the wildfire spread.

Watch: Tourists evacuated by boat from Rhodes as wildfires rage on Greek island

Sunday 23 July 2023 15:40 , Martha Mchardy

‘It was like hell on earth'

Sunday 23 July 2023 15:24 , Matt Mathers

A British tourist has described the scenes in Rhodes as “hell on earth” as wildfires continue to tear through the Greek holiday destination for a sixth consecutive day.

Becky Mulligan, a 29-year-old training manager from Leicester, was staying at the Princess Sun Hotel in the Kiotari resort on Rhodes’s southeast coast when she, her daughter, 5 and sister, 20 say they were forced to flee.

“Smoke started coming up against the window of the hotel so we decided to run,” she told The Independent. “There were helicopters hovering above making the whole building shake.

“We ended up legging it down a dirt track as the smoke came up around our legs. I thought I was going to die. It was like hell on earth”.

‘It was like the end of the world’

Sunday 23 July 2023 15:15 , Martha Mchardy

Thousands of tourists and residents fleeing a wildfire on the Greek island of Rhodes huddled in schools and shelters on Sunday, with many evacuated on private boats from beaches as flames menaced resorts and coastal villages.

Thousands spent the night on beaches and streets.

“It was literally like the end of the world,” British tourist Ian Murison told Sky News from a rescue boat he got after crowds filled buses in a chaotic evacuation from a beach.

Another British tourist, Amy Leyden, described the “terrifying” experience of being moved from two hotels with her 11-year-old daughter before being taken to a school.

“We were walking down the road at 2 o’clock in the morning and the fire was catching up with us,” she told Sky.

In pictures: Wildfires rage through Rhodes

Sunday 23 July 2023 15:05 , Martha Mchardy

The climate crisis is fuelling bigger and more erratic wildfires

Sunday 23 July 2023 14:53 , Louise Boyle, senior climate correspondent

Rhodes is the latest victim of extreme wildfires, prompted by conditions caused by the climate crisis, The Independent’s senior climate correspondent Louise Boyle, reports.

Around the world, larger, more intense fires are being fuelled by extreme heat and drought. An unrelenting heatwave has blanketed Greece, and much of southern Europe, for weeks.

June was the planet’s hottest month in human history, and July looks set to at least match that record.

Temperatures have entered uncharted territory this summer due to an emerging El Niño warming pattern and the ever-worsening climate crisis driven by the burning of fossil fuels.

Tourists shelter in schools and stadiums as wildfires burn for 6th day in Rhodes

Sunday 23 July 2023 14:45 , Martha Mchardy

Tourists are taking refuge inside stadiums and schools as wildfires burn for the sixth day in a row in Rhodes.

Thousands of tourists were forced to flee their hotels and fire crews are now in a race against time to stop the fires from spreading further with 21mph (34kph) winds forecast for tomorrow.

British tourists have described being caught up in the “terrifying” ordeal, with the Foreign Office directing UK nationals towards a crisis management unit set up by the Greek authorities.

‘It didn’t feel real'

Sunday 23 July 2023 14:37 , Martha Mchardy

A tourist has described his fear at being in “imminent danger of being burned to death” as wildfires rage through Rhodes.

Ian Wakefield told Times Radio he spent the night in a school playground in Faliraki after being evacuated 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.

“It was all very confusing – the instructions from the hotel manager were unclear.

“You had to make your own choice in the end. I’ve had to leave quite a lot of luggage in the hotel.”

Rhodes evacuation ‘scariest moment in my entire life,’ says British tourist

Sunday 23 July 2023 14:31 , Martha Mchardy

A British tourist has described being evacuated from Rhodes as wildfires raged the “scariest moment in my entire life.”

Dan Jones, a sports teacher from Torquay, Devon, had to climb onto a fishing trawler with his sons on Saturday night, describing it as “the scariest moment in my entire life”, adding: “What brave boys.”

Smoke turns Rhodes sky grey and hazy as wildfires continue to rage

Sunday 23 July 2023 14:27 , Matt Mathers

A large wildfire burning on the Greek island of Rhodes for the fifth day has forced authorities to order an evacuation of four locations, including two seaside resorts, Oliver Browning reports.

In previous days, the wildfire was confined to the island’s mountainous centre, but aided by winds, very high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread toward the coast on the island’s central-eastern side on Saturday 22 July.

More than 3,500 locals and holidaymakers have been evacuated by land and sea to safety, with more evacuations expected from three villages on Sunday.

No injuries have been reported, according to Greek authorities. Watch the clip here:

Smoke turns sky grey and hazy as wildfires continue to rage in Greece

Thomas Cook cancels all holidays to areas in Rhodes affected by wildfires

Sunday 23 July 2023 14:24 , Martha Mchardy

Thomas Cook has cancelled all holidays to areas of Rhodes most affected by the wildfire until July 31.

The travel agency announced it had been in touch will all customers due to travel to Kiotari and Lardos – the areas of the Greek island at most risk – to arrange “swift refunds”.

It has also offered full refunds to customers due to depart for other parts of the island on Sunday and Monday who wish to cancel.

Wildfires on Greek island of Rhodes force thousands of holidaymakers to evacuate

Sunday 23 July 2023 13:45 , Martha Mchardy

Thousands of holidaymakers and residents have been forced to evacuate their homes and hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes, as wildfires raged for a fifth day.

Coastguard vessels and more than 30 private boats evacuated at least 2,000 people from beaches on the south of the island, and in total an estimated 30,000 people have been moved to safety, local officials said.

Nick Ferris and Holly Bancroft report:

Wildfires on Greek island of Rhodes force thousands of holidaymakers to evacuate

Britons urged to check with travel operator before heading for Rhodes

Sunday 23 July 2023 13:03 , Matt Mathers

Britons going to Rhodes have been advised to check with their travel operator before setting off amid the wildfires.

“If you are planning to travel to Rhodes, 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 Foreign Office said in guidance issued on 23 July.

Thousands of tourists were stranded on the Greek island as wildfires burned for a sixth consecutive day.

UK airlines still selling tickets to Rhodes despite wildfire inferno

Sunday 23 July 2023 12:24 , Matt Mathers

UK airlines are continuing to sell flights for immediate departure from the UK to Rhodes despite the wildfires that have seen thousands of tourists evacuated from the island, Simon Calder reports.

Holiday firms Jet2, the UK’s biggest tour operator, and Tui both announced on Sunday they would be cancelling all flights and holidays to Rhodes and offering refunds because of the fires, which have been raging on the Greek island for six days.

But other airlines are continuing to offer seats on flights to Rhodes for a departure on Sunday. Ryanair has one seat left for sale on the 3.40pm flight from London Stansted for £394 one way, with a Manchester-Rhodes flight available at 3.30pm for £214.

Full story:

UK airlines still selling tickets to Rhodes despite wildfire inferno

Watch: Ice and water flows through streets of Italian town after freak hail storm

Sunday 23 July 2023 11:40 , Matt Mathers

Footage shows ice and water flowing through the streets of an Italian town after violent thunderstorms in the Milan area on Friday 21 July, Oliver Browning and Billal Rahman report.

At least 110 people were injured in the hailstorm, which struck a region of northern Italy and caused water to run through the streets of Seregno.

Hailstones of up to 10 cm in diameter pelted the area of Veneto, according to regional president Luca Zaia.

Watch the clip here:

Ice and water flows through streets of Italian town after freak hail storm

Watch: Tourists evacuated by boat from Rhodes as wildfire rages on Greek island

Sunday 23 July 2023 10:50 , Matt Mathers

A large wildfire burning on the Greek island of Rhodes has forced authorities to order an evacuation of four locations, including two seaside resorts, Oliver Browning reports.

About 2,000 people, including tourists, were evacuated by sea, fire department spokesman Yannis Artopios said Saturday evening.

He added that all visitors had been evacuated without incident.

Three coast guard vessels, an army lifeboat, a special forces inflatable craft and 30 private sailboats helped with the evacuation.

Footage shows people waiting on a beach with wildfires in the background shortly after midnight, while the flames could also be seen raging in videos shared from the boat.

Watch footage of the evacuation effort below:

Tourists evacuated by boat from Rhodes as wildfire rages on Greek island

Tui scraps flights to Rhodes

Sunday 23 July 2023 10:44 , Matt Mathers

Travel company Tui has scrapped flights to Rhodes for the next two to three days amid the wildfires.

The company said the situation on the Greek island remains “volatile and challenging”.

It said in a statement: “The situation in the Southern part of Rhodes remains volatile and challenging.”

“Due to this and considering the impact on local communities being affected, TUI has decided to cancel all flights and booked holidays to Rhodes for departures up to and incl. Tue, 25 July.”

Some flights to Rhodes continue

Sunday 23 July 2023 10:33 , Matt Mathers

Flights from the UK to Rhodes are continuing despite the wildfires that have seen thousands of tourists evacuated from their holiday hotels, Simon Calder reports.

Data from Flightradar24 shows flights on easyJet, Jet2 and Tui from a range of British airports touched down in the early hours of Sunday morning.

It was not immediately clear if the Jet2 planes are the empty aircraft we mentioned earlier, which were being used to evacuate holidaymakers.

Flights on easyJet from Bristol, Gatwick and Luton are on the way to Rhodes, with a departure from Gatwick preparing to leave.

Ryanair has flights scheduled for Sunday from Stansted, East Midlands and Manchester.

Wind to pick up significantly in Rhodes from tomorrow

Sunday 23 July 2023 10:12 , Matt Mathers

Winds are forecast to pick up significantly in Rhodes from tomorrow are fire crews battle wildfires on the island.

Gusts of up 21mph are forecast for Monday, with highs of 25mph on Tuesday, potentially hampering the effort to contain the fires.

Temperatures are also expected to remain sweltering in the mid-30s.

Jet2 dispatches planes to pick up holidaymakers

Sunday 23 July 2023 09:45 , Matt Mathers

Jet2 is dispatching five empty aircraft from UK airports to Rhodes to pick up holidaymakers, Simon Calder reports. The planes were scheduled to depart from East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle and Stansted airports with passengers on board to begin their holidays.

But instead those travellers will be offered refunds, while the planes bring back holidaymakers who were due to return.

A spokesperson for the Leeds-based airline said: “The situation in Rhodes continues to evolve quickly, and our absolute priority is the health, safety and well-being of customers and colleagues in the affected area.

“Our in-resort teams are working hard to comply with the guidance of local authorities, and we are continuing to bring more customer helpers and colleagues into the area to provide further assistance.

“We continue to ask customers in affected areas to follow the advice of both the local authorities, as well as staff in their hotels, who are acting under the advice of the authorities.

“We are contacting all customers in affected areas as quickly as possible by telephone so that we can support them with what they need.

“We are keeping the situation under constant review, and we will continue to make decisions in the best interests of our customers.”

Tornado tears through Milan suburb as extreme weather sweeps Italy

Sunday 23 July 2023 09:30 , Adam Withnall

Italy, which saw some of the hottest temperatures in Europe’s heatwave over the past couple of weeks, has seen the unbearable heat break in dramatic fashion in several places.

Parts of the country have been hit with intense hailstorms – not uncommon during the very hot summer months.

And on Friday morning what appears to be a small tornado struck the Milan suburb of Gessate.

Watch the video here:

Tornado tears through Milan suburb as extreme weather sweeps Italy

Rhodes wildfire escape ‘like the end of the world’ – British survivor

Sunday 23 July 2023 09:15 , Adam Withnall

Ian Murison, from London, is among the British tourists who was rescued from the beach in Rhodes by the small boats operation.

He was staying in the Kiotari area of Rhodes, on the southeast of the island near to Lindos, when the wildfires approached his hotel on Saturday.

He told Sky News he was having breakfast on the beach when the sky turned orange and dark.

“We noticed that the sea had started to become black with soot and actually people were coming out of the sea noticing ash was falling on to their heads.

“I can only describe it as almost a movie experience where everyone’s looking into the sky as it got a very strange orange colour, and everybody was just looking around going, ‘what’s going on?’”

Mr Murison said management started to evacuate his hotel but there were not enough vehicles, so he and his family started walking 5km down the road, eventually getting a lift to Gennadi beach.

“When we arrived, it was just a few hundred people - there were a couple of cafes and bars and they were serving beers and soft drinks, and everybody was just happy, thinking ‘great, we’ve got away from the fire’.

“And then over the next few hours, the amount of people in that area just increased and increased, and then as light fell, people became increasingly anxious about how they were going to get out from this.”

Mr Murison said they were told boats were on their way to collect them, triggering a rush of people to a nearby car park.

“It was literally like the end of the world,” he said.

“And the flames were now far more visible because of course it’s night-time and we couldn’t see that during the day.

“Suddenly there were leaping flames into the sky, and the sky was completely orange in the distance - so that sort of set about a level of panic.”

Ian Murison

Mr Murison said he and his family got on to one of the small boats that were taking people out to bigger vessels to transport them north to Rhodes Town.

“There were still hundreds of people, maybe a thousand people, on the beach when we left it, and the place was littered with suitcases because they were throwing them off the boats.”

Reflecting on his ordeal, Mr Murison said: “The mood was general panic.

“By the time it gets to getting on to the boats and things like that, there’s a lot of pushing and shoving, and there’s a lot of people, a lot of children crying as well.

“So I’m glad that’s all behind us now. Hopefully we can just finish up... in a bit of a calmer mood.”

Airlines working to support families on the ground

Sunday 23 July 2023 09:14 , Matt Mathers

Jet2, a budget airline that flies multiple daily flights from the UK to Rhodes during the summer, told The Independent that it was working to support tourists on the ground.

“We are aware of the fast-moving situation in Rhodes, and our in-resort teams are working to comply with the guidance of local authorities”, a spokesperson said.

“The health, safety and well-being of our customers will always be our number one priority and we ask any customers in affected areas to follow the advice of the local authorities, or their hoteliers who will be acting under the advice of the authorities.”

A spokesperson for travel company Tui, which organises package holidays to Rhodes, told The Independent that they are “aware of wildfires in the south of Rhodes and are monitoring the situation closely.”

Nick Ferris and Holly Bancroft have more details below:

Wildfires on Greek island of Rhodes force thousands of holidaymakers to evacuate

What’s causing the prolonged European heatwave?

Sunday 23 July 2023 08:55 , Adam Withnall

Many parts of central and southern Europe have been seeing temperatures of 40C+ in the past two weeks and forecasters say these conditions could persist for at least two more weeks to come.

The reason for this prolonged heatwave is actually the same as what’s causing the UK to endure a long period of wet and windy weather – the jet stream.

This flow of air has been stuck in place roughly over France since early July, with the UK falling on the low pressure side and much of continental Europe on the high pressure side.

Forecasters say there is unlikely to be any change in the stagnation of the jet stream until possibly the second half of August.

Cathryn Birch, professor of meteorology and climate at University of Leeds, said “there is a chance” the hottest temperature record of 48C in Europe can be broken “over the next week”.

“The jet stream is stuck in a stationary wavey pattern, with high pressure over southern Europe,” she says.

“This is not forecast to change before the end of the month, possibly until mid-August. Temperatures across southern Europe will remain very high until the jet stream pattern changes.”

How long is the heatwave in Europe expected to last?

Sunday 23 July 2023 08:30 , Adam Withnall

Europe is set to continue to bake under extreme heat for weeks as global temperatures soar with more records expected to be broken.

Meteorologists predicted that temperatures in the coming days could keep climbing until they surpass Europe’s current record of 48.8C, set in Sicily in August 2021.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) told The Independent that “above normal temperatures” are expected to continue over the next week.

Read more:

How long is the heatwave in Europe expected to last?

British tourists describe ‘chaos’ amid fires and power cuts on Rhodes

Sunday 23 July 2023 07:50 , Adam Withnall

Many Britons are among the thousands of tourists being evacuated due to wildfires in Rhodes, with the Foreign Office updating its guidance for those planning to travel to Greece, as well as those there who are affected.

British holidaymakers described “terrifying” scenes of turmoil as the five-day fire continues to rage, with power cuts causing “chaos” and an absence of information from travel agencies.

Foreign secretary James Cleverly tweeted: “The safety of British Nationals is our top priority.”

More eye witness accounts from British tourists here:

Fire causes travel chaos for British holidaymakers on Greek island

In pictures: Rhodes wildfires

Sunday 23 July 2023 07:30 , Adam Withnall

Wildfires have spread from the mountainous centre of Greece’s Rhodes island to threaten hotels and resorts on the coast. Here’s what the evacuation effort – involving thousands of tourists and authorities from several countries – looks like on the ground.

Tourists describe long walks to reach beach from evacuated Rhodes hotels

Sunday 23 July 2023 07:15 , Adam Withnall

Tourists on Rhodes have described how they were forced to walk for hours in the searing heat to try and escape the smoke.

“Currently stranded in Rhodes escaping the wildfires on foot – left everything at the hotel and fled with towels across our faces”, said Paul Kalburgi on Twitter.

“My youngest just told me he doesn’t want to die. Terrifying situation here.”

Another Twitter user, John Hughes, said he “had to walk four miles in the heat across dirt tracks in smoke and ash with a five year old. No possessions”.

Rhodes wildfires spread to east coast from centre

Sunday 23 July 2023 07:03 , Adam Withnall

The Rhodes wildfire has been burning for at least five days but until now was confined to the island’s mountainous and sparsely populated centre.

On Saturday, aided by strong winds, high temperatures and dry conditions, it began to spread more widely and threaten the east coast, which is popular with tourists.

Fire Service spokesperson Yannis Artopios said on Saturday afternoon that residents of four localities were sent SMS messages to evacuate – in two places they were told to move to the northeast and in two others to the southwest. The British Embassy in Athens has also told people in Kiotari and Gennadi to evacuate to Plymiri.

Fleet of small boats rescue Rhodes tourists from beach

Sunday 23 July 2023 07:00 , Adam Withnall

Thousands of tourists were evacuated from Rhodes by a fleet of small boats on Saturday as spreading wildfires threatened hotels and resorts.

At least three resorts were ordered to be cleared out and tourists, many Britons among them, had to walk long distances with their luggage to reach the evacuation point.

Coastguard officials said their vessels were joined by some 30 private boats and that at least 2,000 people were evacuated, with the operation set to continue today.

Read more about the dramatic rescue here:

Wildfires on Greek island of Rhodes force thousands of holidaymakers to evacuate

Sunday 23 July 2023 06:54 , Adam Withnall

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live blog on the European heatwave, including wildfires that have triggered evacuations on the island of Rhodes.