Summer 2023 was one of the hottest on record – in July last year, certain destinations across Europe broke records for the warmest days ever recorded from Spain to Italy – causing health concerns and disruption to locals and tourists alike. In May 2024, Greece had the earliest heatwave it had, as temperatures exceeded 43 degrees Celsius. Those extreme temperatures have resulted in wildfires spreading across the islands of Kos, Chios and Crete.
Wildfires started on Kos, one of Greece’s Dodecanese islands. Hundreds of British tourists and residents were forced to flee, taking shelter in a football stadium and other venues to escape the smoke. Similar fires have spread across Chios and Crete.
An S-64E Erickson Air-Crane of the Greek fire brigade drops water to extinguish a wildfire near the town of Stamata, northeast of Athens, Greece, on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Two wildfires near Greeces capital torched homes on Sunday as strong winds continued to ignite blazes and keep the nation on high alert. Photographer: Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesGetty Images
What caused the fires on Kos?
The wildfires started on the week of Monday 1 July, and, at the time of writing, are still being contained by emergency services. The sudden pick-up of the fires resulted in some tourists leaving their holiday accommodation and staying in shelters while waiting to travel home. A lack of rain (much of the island has been dry and windy leading up to the fires spreading) and hot temperatures contributed to the problem.
Is it safe to travel to Kos?
The Greek authorities have not yet announced a state of emergency in Kos. The FCDO is currently not advising against travel to any Greek islands, but make sure to check the latest official advice on the gov.uk website, and check in with your tour operators, accommodation or airlines before you travel.
Which airlines have cancelled flights to Kos?
At the time of writing, no airlines have altered their flight schedule or cancelled any flights.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my holiday?
If you’ve booked flights and hotels separately, you need to check your airline’s latest policy regarding travel to the island. If FCDO does not advise against travel to the destination, the airline is able to still operate flights and is not required to refund customers who wish not to travel.
If you’ve booked a package holiday which includes flights and accommodation, the tour operator has a duty of care to travellers which means that trips to the island’s affected areas might be cancelled, in which case refunds would be offered. Again, this will vary by operator – so check in with the company you booked with.
Will my travel insurance cover wildfires?
No, as the FCDO advice doesn’t tell travellers not to visit Kos. Plus, even if the FDCO did advise against travel to the destination, the two types of UK healthcare available abroad (UK Global Health Insurance Card GHIC and UK European Health Insurance CARD (EHIC) do not cover expenses in the case of natural disasters.
Are any other Greek islands affected?
Yes, there have been fires on Chios, Zakynthos and Crete as well as Kos. Emergency services, including aircraft and helicopters, have been helping to contain the fires.