A north-east mum has described how her family fled from the raging wildfires in Rhodes on a dinghy.
Wildfires have been blazing across the Greek island for six days, sending frightened holidaymakers scrambling for safety as fires neared homes and hotels.
Emma and Bruce Farquhar, and their two children Brodie, 17, and Eilidh, 15, from Inverurie, are among them.
They had been enjoying a relaxing holiday at the Lardos resort on the east of the island, close to where the Laerma wildfire began in the island’s centre.
Initially, they weren’t concerned – until ash started falling on them “like snow from the sky”.
Mrs Farquhar said: “After that, I didn’t sleep, as I thought we would have to leave and evacuate. But, we didn’t hear anything until the government notice came the next day.
“It was stressful and really quite scary at times, but, we are very fortunate.”
Rhodes wildfires ‘quite frightening’
As the fires continued to burn and dark smoke loomed overhead, the Farquhar family pushed the resort’s management to take action.
Families gathered on the beach, anxiously waiting for news while watching the flames rage on in the distance.
Mrs Farquhar added: “That’s when we really saw the fires coming right down from the hotel. We thought we might have to run down the beach or into the water to get away.
“It all became quite real in that moment.”
Staff then helped guests, including the Farquhars, onto a small dinghy which was also loaded with their suitcases.
They were rowed to safety, but Mrs Farquhar said she had mixed emotions – anxious to get home, but sorry for the locals with no other option than to watch their homes and livelihoods burn.
The family eventually arrived at Pefkos further away from the wildfires, where they hailed a taxi and were taken to the airport.
The journey to the airport took a lot longer due to heavy traffic and blockades, with thousands fleeing the fires.
‘Emotions were running high’
She recalled how hard it was to leave the locals who had “helped so much” behind.
Mrs Farquhar added: “The locals were so so lovely to us, especially when it’s their villages and towns that are being absolutely destroyed.
“We felt quite bad that we were quickly trying to get away, when they are stuck there, seeing the destruction to everything around them.
“You build a relationship with these people. Emotions were running very high when we were evacuated.”
Mrs Farquhar praised how brave and calm her children were throughout the whole ordeal.
“Brodie and Eilidh were both very good and very calm,” she added. “It wasn’t until we got to the airport that Eilidh felt quite panicked and emotional.
“We are relieved to be home because of the way our holiday ended. We are just very grateful and very thankful of what we have here.
“All of the things we saw on our weeks holiday are now gone. It really messes with your head, you can’t comprehend it really.
“Luck was definitely on our side. I still think we’d be there now if things hadn’t gone the way they had.”
Free trains for evacuated holiday-makers
Meanwhile, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is offering free standard travel for customers returning to the UK from the Greek Islands.
Anyone whose flight back to the UK results in them landing in a different airport from their home location, or them travelling on a different day can benefit.
Customers should present their stamped passport and airline boarding pass to confirm travel from the islands within the previous twenty-four hours to travel with LNER between today, Tuesday, July 25 and Monday, August 7.
David Horne, managing director at LNER, said: “We recognise this is a difficult time for many people in Greece as wildfires continue to grip the Islands of Rhodes and Corfu.
“At LNER we feel it is the right thing to do to assist those people returning to the UK to make their way home.”
- Have you, or someone you know, been caught up in the wildfires in Greece? Get in touch via livenews@ajl.co.uk to share your story.
