Holidaymakers from Wales sleep on football pitch as wildfires rip through Kos

Thousands of holidaymakers had to sleep on parks and football stadiums on the Greek Island of Kos on Monday as wildfires spread through the area. Hotels were evacuated as over 100 firefighters fought the blaze on the island which started on the afternoon of Monday, July 1.

Holidaymakers from Wales described scenes of pandemonium as emergency alerts were issued as clouds of smoke billowed over resorts. People were relocated to parks, schools and a football stadium.

One said there were around 2,000 people in the stadium and only two toilets which eventually both stopped working. Another said people were jumping in cars, buses and bikes to be taken to safety.

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The fire broke out in the south of the island with the area around Kardamena seemingly the worst affected as people were asked to move closer to the nearby town of Antimachia. Tourists on the island reported being left with little information as they were taken to shelter overnight by coach load, describing the scenes as "hysterical" and "by far the worst experience I’ve ever had."

Holiday operators told tourists they were waiting on further information from authorities before they could advise customers. It is understood the majority of people were allowed to return to their hotels and resorts in the early hours of Tuesday morning but have been told to avoid the area of Kardamena while the fires are brought under control.

One Welsh holiday maker named Rebecca who has been staying on the island with friends said that once they received a more severe alert to vacate the area on Monday evening people became "hysterical". She described how people were "jumping in locals cars, buses and bikes taken people to safety. This is by far the worst experience I’ve ever had people, sleeping in schools, parks and football grounds." Locals and the Greek Army were on standby to offer supplies to those who had been evacuated.

Alicia Williams arrived in Kos last Thursday with her husband Adam and was also evacuated to a nearby football stadium. She described how "smoke was billowing from the mountain" over the Sovereign Beach hotel where they were staying and that "helicopters and planes dipping into the sea to take water up to the fire".

She said that they first received notice of the fire on Monday afternoon but that the situation appeared to worsen throughout the evening and that tourists were starting to "panic" before they were taken to the stadium at around 8:30pm.

"We eventually got asked to go into the stadium grounds. It was very hectic and it filled up quite quickly. The local people and army were very organised bringing water, food and blankets for children. There were around 2,000 people in the stadium and only two toilets which eventually both stopped working. The one toilet was a cubicle without any curtain or door so it was not very dignified." Alicia said that tents were erected overnight to shelter some people.

She said there was a "complete lack of information" about what was happening. "Around 7:30am this morning people started contacting their hotels to see if Kardemena was reopening as again the TUI reps were unable to tell us. The reps then confirmed this and said that transport would be arranged back to the hotels in the area as the fire was under control. We arrived back at the hotel at 10:20am this morning after an incredibly tiring and long night sat outside on a concrete wall. Thankfully we had a plentiful supply of water & food from the local people & the army.

"It has been quite a frightening experience as we were unsure if we would be moved to safety in time. Our family and friends at home were worried for our safety also and could not get any straight answers from our tour operator. On top of panic there was the stress of not knowing what was going to happen and complete lack of communication and reassurance from our tour providers side." Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news

One woman named Francesca is on her honeymoon on the island and said that authorities were "under-prepared" for the fires and spent the night in the stadium after being evacuated. "It's a natural disaster and the hotel reps have worked really hard to try and communicate as much as they can, when they can, but we haven't slept and I would say that would go for the majority in the stadium," she said.

"Nowhere near enough blankets and while it isn't 'cold' there is certainly a chill to the air and many have been left (like I have) to just try and keep moving to stay warm. Toilets have been a dire situation and there just seems to be really poor communication between the army and everyone else." Francesca was allowed back to their hotel at around 6:15am.

One Welsh family who were evacuated to a football stadium and were due to fly home today were told they had to walk to the airport for their flight this afternoon. They said that when coaches and taxis started arriving to take people back to their hotels there was no system put in place to prioritise those who needed to get back to get their belongings in order to make their flight.

They walked to the airport with their children which took 20 minutes, and they had no sun protection with them in the sweltering Greek sun. They said they spent the night on the floor with their young children, and while some people had been given blankets, there were none left.

They added that tents were erected for people with children under the age of four and that the ground was hard and covered in stones, and there was one toilet available to the hundreds of people there. People were taking their young children to a field nearby instead.

They were told by their holiday operator Tui on Monday evening to leave their cases at the hotel, then were told contradictory advice on Tuesday, that it was their risk to leave their belongings at the hotel.

Fortunately, two adults out of their travel party were able to get a taxi back to their hotel to retrieve their suitcases and they then were able to get on the planned transfer coach back to the airport. The airport has been described as extremely busy this morning as other tourists arrive sooner than planned after a night away from their hotels.

A message from TUI to one holidaymaker evacuated from their hotels warned: “We are aware you have all been displaced from your accommodation in Kardamena, we are still awaiting updates from local authorities, until we receive a notification from Civil Protection no one should return to Kardamena resort.

We are trying our best to get our teams to the locations you have been moved to, if there is not a TUI rep there they are on their way. Please be patient, as there is a large number of quests to get around.

If you need immediate assistance, please let us know. Everyone's safety is our first priority and our focus is to get people to safe spaces. If you are currently in a safe space it may be some time before we can move you.

If you are due to fly home tomorrow there may be opportunity to collect your luggage before your flight leaves. It is important to take your booked flight home. We are currently in the process of rearranging transfers and will send these out to you as soon as possible. Please liaise with TUI staff in your location for more information”

Christos Efstratiou, deputy governor for the Dodecanese islands, said the wildfire had abated and people were being allowed to return to their accommodation and there was no damage to buildings. More than 100 firefighters, assisted by a helicopter, were still tackling the blaze to stop it flaring up again, the fire brigade said.

"We have had an exceptionally difficult June regarding weather conditions, with high levels of drought and unusually strong winds for this season," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday during a cabinet meeting. This year's summer, he said, "is predicted to be particularly dangerous" for wildfires.

Mr Mitsotakis said the use of drones as part of an early warning system for wildfires had been particularly useful this year and credited better co-ordination between authorities and volunteer firefighters for limiting the extent of fire damage so far.

"We are entering the tough core of the anti-fire period, and this will certainly not be won without the help of the public as well, particularly in the field of prevention," Mr Mitsotakis said. Firefighters have also been tackling a wildfire on the island of Chios in the Metohi area. Evacuation orders are in place, urging people to head to a nearby beach.

Hot, dry weather combined with strong winds helped fan fires in Greece and Turkey last month. This year's summer is expected to be particularly prone to blazes, following a particularly mild, dry winter. Last year, extensive wildfires in Greece killed more than 20 people.

A TUI UK&I spokesperson said: "The safety of our customers and colleagues is our number one priority and our teams have been working to support customers impacted by a wildfire in the Kardamena area of Kos, Greece.

"Coaches are now transporting guests back to their hotels following a precautionary evacuation order which was issued last night by the Greek Civil Guard. We have our TUI reps on the ground working to support customers as they return to hotels. Customers in Kos are advised to continue to follow the advice of local authorities."