EasyJet and RyanAir keep flying tourists to holiday hell in Rhodes as wildfires force biggest evacuation in Greek history
Tourists are taking shelter in public buildings after being evacuated from hotels
Reuters
EasyJet and RyanAir are continuing to fly tourists to Rhodes, despite the island mounting the largest evacuation in Greek history due to devastating wildfires.
Some 19,000 people have been moved to safety as authorities seek to relocate tourists and residents whose accommodation was under threat.
Many of those forced to leave homes and hotels are now huddled in schools and pop-up shelters.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Civil Protection said it was "the largest evacuation from a wildfire in the country".
The wildfires have rapidly spread across the island due to high winds
Reuters
High winds have led to wildfires rapidly spreading across parts of the country, sweeping in towards the south-eastern areas of the island which are popular among tourists for beaches and ancient ruins.
One pregnant woman and another person have been hospitalised due to the wildfire, a spokesperson for the fire brigade said.
Tui and Jet2 have already cancelled all flights to the popular holiday destination and instead is focusing on flying empty planes to evacuate those tourists already on island.
But easyJet and RyanAir are continuing to operate services as normal.
HOLIDAYS FROM HELL:
Tourists are sheltered in a stadium after being evacuated following a wildfire on the island of Rhodes
Reuters
An appeal has been issued for donations of essentials such as mattresses and bedclothes
Reuters
In a statement, easyJet said: "We are currently operating as normal to Rhodes however we continue to closely monitor the situation. We advise customers travelling to and from Rhodes to check the status of their flights on Flight Tracker.
"EasyJet is currently working to comply with requests of the local authorities, and is in contact with customers in resort to support them.
"The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is our highest priority."
RyanAir added that it was "monitoring the situation".
The fire has scorched swathes of forest and several buildings since breaking out in a mountainous area on Tuesday.
Efthymios Lekkas, a local professor specialising in natural disasters told ERT TV: "All the big hotels have closed.
The fires have led to the biggest evacuation in Greek history
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"I don’t think they will be able to operate this year because the surrounding area in each unit has been completely destroyed, and the environment is not inspiring for a holiday."
With Europe currently experiencing very high temperatures, Rhodes is as hot as 45C at present.
Thanasis Virinis, a vice mayor of Rhodes told Mega television on Sunday: "We have between 4,000 and 5,000 people now accommodated at different structures."
He called for donations of essentials such as mattresses and bedclothes.