Before and after satellite photos show the shocking effects of the Rhodes wildfires as green rolling fields and mountains have been reduced to charred scorched earth.
The Greek island has been ripped apart by a week of terrifying blazes, forcing thousands of holidaymakers to evacuate to safety.
On Sunday afternoon, as the first Brits started to arrive back at Gatwick Airport, Greek authorities issued further warnings to tourists to flee large parts of Corfu as another holiday hotspot became engulfed in flames.
There are stark contrasts between the satellite images taken of Rhodes from January 2, 2022, and July 23, 2023.
A raging inferno has spread across the green hills and trees, leaving a trail of destruction and sparking Greece’s largest disaster evacuation in history.
For a week, firefighters have tackled blazes that erupted in peak tourism season, causing tourists to panic – and leaving flights and holidays cancelled.
Before and after satellite photos show the shocking effects of the Rhodes wildfires as green rolling fields and mountains have been reduced to charred scorched earth
Smoke billows into the skies as Rhodes faces terrifying wildfires amid the blistering heatwave across Europe, forcing mass evacuations
British tourists have now also been told to evacuate parts of Corfu (pictured) as another Greek holiday hotspot is devastated by wildfires
Hundreds of holidaymakers milled inside Rhodes International Airport, some trying to sleep on their beach towels as they waited for flights off the island.
Brits stuck in Rhodes have described the scenes at the airport as ‘absolute pandemonium’ as they try to escape the wildfires.
Stranded families have told MailOnline how they were left ‘fighting for our lives’ to try and get onto boats as desperate tourists shoved children out of the way to to force themselves on board.
Tourists who have made it home from Rhodes warmly embraced those waiting for them at Gatwick Airport after successfully fleeing the terrifying infernos on the Greek island.
In Corfu, those in Santa, Megoula, Porta, Palia Perithia and Sinies have been told to evacuate to Kasiopi amid the devastating fires.
Holidaymakers in Rou, Katavolo, Kentroma, Tritsi, Kokokila, Sarakiniatika, Plagia, Kalami, Vlachatika, Kavalerena should evacuate now to Ipsos. And Brits in Viglatouri and Nisaki should flee to Barbati.
The Government said on Sunday afternoon it was ‘actively monitoring the fires in Rhodes’ and is in close contact with the local authorities.
The Foreign Office has deployed a Rapid Deployment Team of five staff and four British Red Cross responders who have been pictured trying to help British nationals at the airport.
Wildfires across Rhodes have caused mass evacuations as large parts of the island have become engulfed in flames amid Europe’s heatwave
Destroyed vehicles are seen as wildfires burn forests in Rhodes, Greece, sparking mass evacuations
Wildfires burn forests in Rhodes, Greece. Thousands of holidaymakers are trying to flee the island
A tourist from Wales waits for departing planes at the airport, after being evacuated following a wildfire on the island of Rhodes
Anxious tourists wait for more information by staring up at the departure boards at Rhodes International Airport amid the chaotic scenes
After rival airlines TUI and Jet2 cancelled flights to the island, easyJet announced two repatriation flights will be sent in to bring more Brits back to London Gatwick but not until tomorrow. The airline will also send another plane on Tuesday, while Ryanair has not yet announced any cancellations.
Conor Cullen, 45, his wife Danielle, 41, and their two daughters, aged 11 and 13, say they have been left to ‘fend for themselves’. The frustrated family, who live near Belfast, were evacuated from the Princess Beach Hotel in Kiotari at 4pm yesterday and taken to Gennadi where they joined thousands in waiting for rescue boats on the beach.
Mr Cullen, who works in business intelligence, told MailOnline: ‘When we made the decision to move Gennadi that was the big moment in the situation last night we had to take the bull by the horns. No one was coming to save us. We had to fend for ourselves.’
His wife Danielle, a hairdresser, added: ‘When you’re watching a movie and you just think that’s never gonna happen. Last night showed these things happen and we really were fighting for our lives trying to get on the boat.’
Mr Cullen said the situation at the beach was ‘like something out a movie’. He added: ‘You might assume with young kids that people were more accepting but they weren’t. Everyone had their own situation and tried to force themselves on.
‘They were shoving kids out the way. It felt like we were going to have to get physical. We were very fortunate that a boat stopped in front of us. Then there was a sick lady who had passed out in front of us but others still tried to shove themselves on.’
The first Brits have arrived at Gatwick Airport wearing smiles of relief while hundreds more remain caught up in hours of delays at Rhodes Airport
Holidaymakers Charlie and Shane Murphy-Jones arrives at Gatwick Airport from the Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires continue to spread and thousands are forced to flee
A man wearing an England shirt stands near the International Arrivals gate at Gatwick airport after returning from Rhodes
The family, who arrived in Rhodes on July 15, were able to get a three-hour boat up to Afantou before getting a taxi to Stegna Beach where they will wait until their flight home to Belfast on Tuesday. After fleeing their hotel, they have been left with two small bags and their passports.
Lowri Jones, from Crymych, Pembrokeshire, Wales, described scenes of ‘chaos’ at the airport after arriving last night. She told The Independent: ‘It was absolute pandemonium at the airport, with long queues of people trying to find out what coach they were.’
Brits have been forced to wade out into the sea and jump onto boats to escape the incoming inferno, while others were forced to sleep on the beach away from the flames.
More than 30,000 people were evacuated from Rhodes, with many others forced to leave their belongings behinds as they take refuge at other resorts.
Those caught in the chaos have blasted holiday firms for a perceived lack of help, as they have been forced to rely on assistance from the overstretched Greek authorities and well-meaning locals.
Now TUI says it has cancelled all flights to the island until Wednesday while Jet2 has cancelled five, with empty planes still travelling to the island to get tourists home.
As the dire situation has shown no sign of improving, many are still trapped, with the Greek authorities warning things could become even worse.
A UK government spokesperson said: ‘We are actively monitoring the fires in Rhodes and are in close contact with local authorities.
‘The FCDO has deployed a Rapid Deployment Team (RDT) of five FCDO staff and four British Red Cross responders to Rhodes to support British Nationals, whose safety is our top priority. They will be based at Rhodes International Airport to assist with travel documents and liaise with Greek authorities and travel operators on the ground.
‘British nationals in Rhodes should contact their travel operator in the first instance for any queries regarding the rescheduling of flights and continue to check our updated gov.uk travel advice for information.’
