Wildfires in Europe are sweeping across some of the continent’s best-loved destinations – causing destruction and health risks. The fires, which started on Monday 1 July 2024 as a European heatwave took hold, also spread at the peak of the summer holiday travel season, causing disruption to holidaymakers and profoundly impacting the tourism industry. Below, we look at which countries and areas have been most affected and what this means for those who have already booked to travel to Europe.
Where are the wildfires in Europe?
At the time of writing (Wednesday 3 July), there are wildfires in Kos, Chios, Crete and Zakynthos. Residents and tourists have been evacuated to other venues for safety while emergency services try to contain the blaze. So far, these are the only places in Europe to suffer wildfires this year.
In 2023, fires blazed in Croatia, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Italy and Algeria, among others. Thousands of people were evacuated across these countries, including holidaymakers, and airlines put on repatriation flights to some of the destinations most affected, including the Greek islands.
What’s causing Europe’s wildfires?
The three factors that impact the spread of fires are high temperatures, drought and high wind. Much of Mediterranean Europe are already experiencing very early heatwaves this summer, and while many factors can be the final spark that ignites a wildfire (campfires, lightning etc), hot temperatures are key.
What is the advice for those stranded in areas affected by wildfires?
Currently, the FDCO does not advice against travel to Kos or other Greek islands, but the official government advice for those who are in areas affected by wildfires is as follows.
- Follow the guidance of the emergency services.
- Contact your airline or travel operator who can assist you with return travel to the UK.
- Enable the Emergency Alerts option to receive the local government’s emergency alerts. On iPhone, go to Settings > Notification and enable the “Emergency Alerts” option. On Android 11 and higher go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced Settings > Wireless Emergency Alerts.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my holiday because of the wildfires?
It depends. Last year, some flights and package holidays to destinations that were severely affected by the wildfires were cancelled by tour operators; flights and holidays to Rhodes, for example, were cancelled by companies such as Tui throughout the month of July. If your tour operator cancels your holiday or flight because of wildfires, you’ll be offered the chance to rebook or a refund.
However, flights and holidays to destinations which are not severely affected are likely to run as normal, and unless the FCDO have issued ‘do not travel’ advisories, insurance is unlikely to cover you if you choose to cancel your trip as it’s not deemed a necessity.