Wildfires in Europe are ravaging some of the continent’s most beloved tourist destinations, causing destruction and health hazards. The fires, which began on Monday 1 July 2024 as a European heatwave hit, are also spreading during the peak summer holiday travel season, causing disruption for holidaymakers and severely impacting the tourism industry. Below we look at the countries and regions most affected, and what this means for people who have already booked trips to Europe.
Where are the wildfires in Europe?
At the time of writing (Wednesday, July 3rd), wildfires are burning on the islands of Kos, Chios, Crete and Zakynthos. Residents and tourists have been evacuated elsewhere for safety while emergency services work to extinguish the flames. These are the only wildfires in Europe so far this year.
In 2023, fires broke out in Croatia, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Italy and Algeria, among other countries. Thousands of people, including holidaymakers, were evacuated in those countries, and airlines flew repatriation flights to the hardest-hit destinations, such as the Greek Islands.
What is causing the European wildfires?
Three factors influence the spread of fires: high temperatures, drought and strong winds. Many parts of Mediterranean Europe have already experienced very early heat waves this summer. There are many factors that can ultimately spark a wildfire (campfires, lightning, etc.), but the key one is high temperatures.
What is your advice for people stranded in bushfire-affected areas?
The FDCO is not currently advising against travel to Kos or other Greek islands, but the official government advice for people in areas affected by the wildfires is:
Follow the instructions of the emergency services. Contact your airline or travel company to assist you in your return journey to the UK. Enable your emergency alerts option to receive local emergency alerts. On iPhone,[設定]>[通知]Go to[緊急警報]Please enable the option. For Android 11 and above,[設定]>[通知]>[詳細設定]>[ワイヤレス緊急警報]Go to.
If I cancel my holiday because of the bushfires, can I get a refund?
It depends. Some flights and package tours to destinations that were severely affected by the wildfires last year have been cancelled by tour operators. For example, flights and tours to Rhodes were cancelled throughout July by companies such as TUI. If a tour operator cancels a tour or flight due to the wildfires, they will offer you the opportunity to rebook or get a refund.
However, flights and holidays to destinations that are not severely affected are likely to operate as normal and, unless the FCDO issues a ‘do not travel’ advice, if you choose to cancel your trip it is likely that your insurance will not cover you as it will not be deemed essential.
