Wildfires are raging on the Greek island of Chios, ripping through swathes of forests, forcing people to evacuate their homes and causing power outages.
The blaze has been ongoing for two days, with strong gusts of wind on Monday making it difficult to control the flames.
Some 190 firefighters have been battling the fires, with another 171 being deployed to try to keep the blaze at bay and away reach of residential areas. As a precaution, dozens of people who live in villages on the island have left their homes.
Chios, the fifth largest Greek island, is located near the western coastline of Turkey in the Aegean Sea. The island is known for its pristine coastline, medieval villages and Byzantine-era architecture, as well as being one of the only places in the world to grow mastic trees, which produce resin, an important industry on the island.
Firefighters are trying to prevent the fires from reaching the trees that are vital for the island’s economy
Sitting at Europe’s hot southernmost tip, Greece has felt the economic and environmental impact of frequent wildfires in recent years, which have been attributed to fast-changing climate.
Here’s what to know about the Chios wildfires.
Where are the wildfires?
As of Monday morning, Greece’s civil protection emergency services have issued a warning over forest fires in the areas of: Vessa, Lithi, Elata, Leptopoda, Agios Georgios Sikousis, Dafnoas, Agia Paraskevi Karyon area, Resta and Armolia.
More warnings covering other areas were also made over the weekend. The authorities have asked people to follow the protection advice on their website.
Foreign Office advice
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) had not given any specific travel advice regarding the wildfires in Chios as of Monday morning.
In its general advice, the FCDO says that lighting fires in the country is both dangerous and illegal due to the high risk of wildfires.
“There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location,” the advice says. “Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly.”
To avoid the risk of starting wildfires, the FCDO says not to leave litter behind, especially not glass, which is known to start fires, to make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished and not to light barbecues
“Causing a wildfire or a forest fire is a criminal offence in Greece – even if unintentional. If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112,” it adds.
It also advises travellers to follow @112Greece for official updates, adhere to the guidance of the emergency services, call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger and contact your airline or travel operator, who can assist you with return travel to the UK.
Will my flight get cancelled?
There has been no disruption to flights due to the wildfires. Chios Island National Airport operates a small number of flights a day to mainland Greece and other airlines. Its flight schedule is operating as normal, apart from some minor delays to arrivals and departures.
Most airlines adhere to a policy whereby they should put you on the next available flight in the event of a cancellation. Compensation is unlikely when the cause of a cancellation is out of the airline’s control, such as wildfires.
Can I cancel my package holiday?
As the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Greece, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you’re looking to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes.
If you do have travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
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