Is it safe to travel to Greece? The latest advice as wildfires rage in Kos

Carlo Simone
·2-min read
Wildfires on the Greek island of Kos caused some travellers to be evacuated from their hotels, but is it safe to travel out to Greece? <i>(Image: ITV)</i>
Wildfires on the Greek island of Kos caused some travellers to be evacuated from their hotels, but is it safe to travel out to Greece? (Image: ITV)

Wildfires have been affecting several areas of Greece in the last couple of days, including on the island of Kos, so some people might be wondering if it is safe to travel to the country.

Firefighters battled wildfires that broke out on the eastern Aegean islands of Chios and Kos on Monday and which left two firefighters injured.

This came just a day after the fire department managed to tame two large forest fires near Athens that had been fanned by strong winds.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Monday (July 1) during a cabinet meeting: "We have had an exceptionally difficult June regarding weather conditions, with high levels of drought and unusually strong winds for this season."

This year’s summer, he said, “is predicted to be particularly dangerous” for wildfires.

Good Morning Britain reported that British tourists were among those evacuated from hotels last night, with some describing the situation as "apocalyptic",

Is it safe to travel to Greece right now?

On the Government travel advice page for Greece it has not recommended people to not travel to Greece.

Its latest update at the time of writing was on June 25 stating: "Information on what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards (‘Safety and security’ page).”

On the safety and security page, it mentions there is a "high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October" in the country.

It recommends registering for alerts from the Greek government’s Emergency Communication Service (in Greek). In terms of setting it up, it adds:

  • for iPhones go to Settings > Notifications and enable the ‘Emergency Alerts’ option at the bottom

  • for Android 11 and higher go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Wireless Emergency Alerts

  • for Samsung devices go to Settings > Apps > Messages > Notifications > Emergency Notifications and enable the ‘Emergency Alerts’ option

Recommended reading:

In terms of further advice, it says:

  • follow @112Greece for official updates

  • follow the guidance of the emergency services

  • call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger

  • contact your airline or travel operator who can assist you with return travel to the UK

It adds: "Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly."

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest stories

  • Heavy lightning triggers wildfires on Greek island of Thassos

    Heavy lightning triggered two fires on the Greek island of Thassos on Wednesday, the fire brigade said, a day after firefighting forces tamed wildfires fanned by unusually strong winds on two other islands. More than 32 firefighters assisted by 13 fire engines, one aircraft and two helicopters were trying to put out the flames devouring forest land on two fronts on the island in the northern Aegean Sea 306 km (190 miles) north of Athens. Wildfires have become more common and devastating in Greece in recent years because of climate change, scientists say, frequently disrupting summer tourism as millions flock to the country's islands.

  • Thousands told to flee raging California wildfire

    Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate as a wildfire rages out of control in northern California, with a swathe of the United States in the grip of a "record-breaking and dangerous" heatwave that was complicating firefighting efforts.Over 25,000 people in the area were under orders to evacuate on Wednesday, local NBC affiliate KCRA reported.

  • Family's horror Greek island holiday as they're forced to flee hotel

    Sarah and Mark Shaw were among thousands forced to evacuate their hotels in Kos after wildfires

  • Shocking aerial photos show widespread devastation as Hurricane Beryl moves through Caribbean

    Hurricane Beryl ‘flattened’ Carriacou Island and destroyed thousands of buildings in the eastern Caribbean

  • Teen severs his spinal cord after jumping into pool to avoid wasp: ‘This is a long road’

    Doctors do not believe that the teen will regain the ability to use his hands or feet

  • Summer holiday weather revealed - and it's good news for breaks in the UK

    July and August are forecast to be 'very warm' - but it's not all good news...

  • Moscow hit by heat not seen in over a century

    Moscow and the surrounding region sweltered Wednesday as temperatures soared to levels unseen in over a century, with the state weather monitor warning of dangerously hot nights. The heatwave has hit the Moscow region as well as the southern and western Kursk, Belgorod and Voronezh regions. bur/fg

  • Mystery deepens as passengers challenge Stanley Johnson claims over flight diversion to Heathrow

    Exclusive: Could British Airways face £200,000 payout for compensation claims?

  • Hurricane Beryl 'leaves almost whole island homeless' as it churns towards Jamaica

    At least six people have died and further fatalities ‘remains a grim reality’

  • I've visited over 50 cities in Europe. London and Paris were great, but these 5 lesser-known locations are worth a visit.

    After traveling to 50 cities in Europe, I've discovered some beautiful hidden gems. From Bath to Bruges, these are the cities worth visiting.

  • What Is the Most Dangerous Animal in the World?

    It's hard to say what is the most dangerous animal in the world; you're not comparing apples to apples. But when it comes dangerous, these four top the list.

  • Two cruise ships arrive at port with more than 4,000 passengers

    The ships include the huge Regal Princess and the Regent Seven Seas Mariner making its first visit to Portland

  • Massive makos, Queen Bosses and a baby angel shark on Discovery 'Shark Week,' where women shine

    You're looking — yes, looking — for a group of hungry sharks to spark a feeding frenzy. “Sharks jump at every opportunity,” Dixon says. The week kicks off Sunday with Dixon's hour-long “Belly of the Beast: Bigger & Bloodier,” in which she and veteran “Shark Week” biologist Dr. Austin Gallagher try to lure a so-called Queen Boss off the New Zealand coast.

  • Watch: Ukrainian drones attack Russia’s Black Sea naval base

    Ukraine launched a drone attack on Tuesday night, targeting the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, where Moscow’s once-revered Black Sea Fleet is based after it was forced to abandon its Crimean base in Sevastopol.

  • How open-jaw flights can save you money – and make your holiday more rewarding

    Not so long ago, a multi-destination holiday usually involved little more than making the most of a layover en route to Australia or the Far East. But the number of multi-destination trips taken by Britons has almost doubled in the past year according to ABTA (the Association of British Travel Agents). Its latest travel trends report showed that 14 per cent of trips taken in 2023 were multi-city, compared with 8 per cent in 2022.

  • Thailand Considers End to 52-Year-Old Afternoon Booze Ban to Woo Tourists

    (Bloomberg) -- Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin may end a 52-year-old ban on afternoon alcohol sales after appeals from the tourism industry, which is struggling with rising costs and weak consumer spending.Most Read from BloombergUS Allies Say China Is Developing Attack Drones for RussiaChina Can End Russia’s War in Ukraine With One Phone Call, Finland SaysBiden Faces Mounting Pressure as Report Says He Is Weighing ExitZelenskiy Challenges Trump to Reveal Plans for Ending WarBiden Plummets

  • 37 myths about cruising that just aren't true

    We bust open some of the most common myths in cruising, and offer our best top tips and hacks along the way.

  • I went inside a hidden room where flight attendants sleep on long-haul flights. I was amazed by its small size and comfy beds.

    Business Insider's reporter toured a secret room above economy where Air New Zealand flight attendants sleep on long-haul Boeing 777-300ER flights.

  • Philippine town cleans up beach in exchange for rice

    STORY: :: Mabini, PhilippinesPlastic waste litters the shores of this resort town near Manila, the Philippines' sprawling capital.This coastal cleanup crew is trying to hold back the steady flood of waste.But each sack of they gather doesn't go unrewarded. They get a two-pound bag of rice in exchange, enough for a small family's needs.:: This Earth Green campaigners say the exchange can educate the community about why protecting the environment is so critical, all while keeping the shores clean, and as inflation bites, keeping people here, like Janeth Aceveda, afloat. "The exchange is a huge help for us because in a month I need four and a half sacks of rice, but now all I have to buy is two sacks, which is a huge help in saving money. It also helps the environment and it shows when our surroundings are clean." Mabini in Batangas province is a world-class scuba diving destination, known for its vibrant corals and marine biodiversity. But a rising tide of plastic pollution is posing an increasing threat to marine life. Organizer Giulio Endaya has witnessed the harm first hand. :: Giulio Endaya, Exchange organizer"I've seen sea turtles entangled in nets and other types of plastics. They've been known to eat straws and plastic bags, and the fish also eat microplastics that have been, you know, broken down in the shore. And recently we've been finding more and more microplastics even in fish that we eat, so it's also harmful to us." To untangle the problem, Endaya and his group of volunteers spearheaded the ‘Plastic Palit Bigas’– or ‘plastic in exchange for rice’– program. The project is funded by donations from individuals and small companies that advocate for marine conservation. Through the exchange, Mabini volunteers can turn in sacks of litter, regardless of weight, for a kilogram– or 2.2 pounds– of rice. Volunteer Raymond Basit says it’s been a potent incentive. "It helps a lot because people now have an urge, because of poverty and especially during these times, the price of goods is so high. Now during their free time they can clean, and they push themselves to clean because they get something in return, which is a big help for them." An updated 2022 University of Oxford report found that The Philippines accounts for 36% of the total global input of plastic waste into the ocean, more than any other country. The plastic for rice exchange aims to change that. :: 4.7 tonsAccording to Endaya, since clean-up efforts began in October 2022, more than 4.7 U.S. tons of garbage have been collected and exchanged for nearly 3 tons of rice.

  • Trotting hippos can become airborne, scientists say

    The findings suggest they are able to push the apparent limits of what giant land animals can do.