Bury family speak of ‘pandemonium’ after evacuation from Rhodes hotel following wildfires

A family from Bury have spoken of the ‘pandemonium’ that broke out after they were evacuated from their hotel in Rhodes, after wildfires swept across the Greek Island.

Dave Williams, his wife and family including two grandchildren, were taken away from the hotel in Kiotari, along with a large group of holidaymakers, at around 2pm yesterday (Saturday, July 22).

They were then sent to a nearby beach in 40C heat, where they were eventually evacuated by boat, arriving in Rhodes Town at around 7am this morning.

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Thousands of residents and tourists were evacuated on Saturday from at least six villages while the British Embassy in Athens has urged Brits to leave the area.

Travel operator TUI has since announced it is cancelling all flights and booked holidays to the island for the next several days. It comes shortly after Jet2 suspended five flights scheduled to depart for Rhodes today, including one from Manchester Airport.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Dave said the family have been lucky to have been put in an alternative hotel, but many are struggling as accommodation is now ‘very scarce and expensive’.

“It’s very scary,” he said.

“They evacuated our hotel at 2pm in Kiotari, we were marched 8 km in 40c heat. We had to get medical attention for my wife from the police and we had two grandchildren with us aged 10 and 4.

“We then got sent to the beach after waiting five hours for buses that didn't turn up, to be evacuated by boat in the dark as there was no electricity.

“Pandemonium broke out as every boat arrived and the military had to intervene.

“We finally got a boat around 2am and landed at Rhodes Town at 7am.”

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