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Forest fires hit northern Greece
Hotels and campsites were evacuated in northern Greece after forest fires raged out of control.
Over 1,000 UK holidaymakers were forced to spend the night on a beach on the Halkidiki peninsula, south of Thessaloniki.
The three affected resorts were Polichrono, Hanioti and Pefkohori.
First Choice, which has around 600 clients in the affected resorts, said the main fire was now under control.
“Local fire crews say they should have the rest of the smaller fires out by midday,” said a spokeswoman.
“Customers are now returning to their hotels. We will be visiting all the hotels for safety checks.”
Mytravel has 100 customers in Hanioti and Pefkohori.
A spokeswoman said clients were being let back into their hotels.
Thomas Cook has 428 customers in the three affected resorts and said its hotels have not been damaged.
Thomson has 1000 holidaymakers in Halkidiki and 11 hotels.
‘Once accommodation has been deemed safe and thoroughly checked by our team of health and safety consultants, passengers will return to their hotels accordingly,” said a Thomson spokeswoman.
“Some hotels still have a lack of water and electricity, however we anticipate this will be rectified later today or tomorrow morning.
“Thomsonfly will be sending a plane to the region today with a special assistance team including a health and safety officer and a counsellor.
“The flight will bring home passengers who were due to return to the UK last night, yet were unable to reach the airport due to road blockages.”
The Foreign Office said no British casualties have been reported.
Teams from the Embassy in Athens and from London are on the way to the area.
Worried relatives should call 020 7008 1500.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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