After a long, hot summer with wildfires around the country, the situation in Greece appears to be easing. There is still a severe fire in West Attica, northwest of Athens, but this is largely under control, according to the latest update from the Hellenic fire service on August 4. There are also smaller active fires on the islands of Evia and Crete.

Greece is particularly vulnerable to wildfires, as its southerly position means a drier climate and there are often strong winds that make it difficult to contain fires. Officially, the fire season is between the start of May to the end of October, but the worst of the fires tend to be in July and August.

Much of Europe has been experiencing an extended heatwave this summer, with the parched landscape increasing the risk of wildfires. Some have been particularly extreme — in France, a major fire burned large areas near Bordeaux, while Spain has also been badly affected.

As of Friday, August 7, the UK Foreign Office is not advising against travel to Greece. If you’re planning a trip to Greece this summer, here’s what you need to know.

Where are the wildfires on the mainland?

The worst-affected area is in West Attica, northwest of Athens, where over 13,000 hectares had burned by August 6. In its last emergency briefing on August 4, the Hellenic fire service said there were still active outbreaks near the old Nato facilities and in Liakotos Kalogirou, but areas that were still smoking were being treated.

Fires also broke out in Nea Sampsounta and Plataria Thesprotia in Epirus (near the Albania border), Kilkis in the Central Macedonia region, and Agios Lavrentios in Magnesia but are under control.

Where else is affected in Greece?

On the islands, the worst of the fires is in Evia but there are also smaller fires in Crete.

Is it safe to travel to Greece?

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The Foreign Office does not advise against travelling to Greece. However, it says: “There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location.”

In addition, you should follow @112Greece on X. It’s the official account of the country’s 112 emergency communications service and it shares regular fire updates, including incidents where evacuation is needed.

In previous years it has been recommended that visitors put together a grab bag containing essentials such as passport and ID, money and bank cards, insurance documents, essential medicine, mobile phones and chargers, in case there is a need to move quickly.

The official fire season began on May 1 and will continue until October 31. Further fires cannot be ruled out. If your trip is to a part of the country that’s not affected by fires then there’s no reason not to go — but stay alert for further outbreaks.

What’s causing the wildfires?

Much of Europe has been experiencing prolonged heatwaves this summer. Greece is prone to wildfires due to its southerly position and strong winds that encourage fires to spread. While the cause of the specific fires are still unknown, many wildfires are started by people. A fire can start accidentally, caused for example by a carelessly discarded cigarette, or be set off deliberately, in cases of arson.

Can I get a refund if I choose not to travel because of wildfires?

The UK Foreign Office doesn’t advise against travelling to Greece, so any request to cancel a holiday would be considered a “disinclination to travel” and would be ineligible for a refund under normal booking conditions.

If you’re particularly concerned, you could speak to your tour operator or travel agent first. You probably won’t get your money back, but you may be able to change the dates, the destination or both.

If you have booked a package holiday, and you’re travelling to a resort affected by fires, the operator is likely to cancel the trip before you travel. In such a case you’d be entitled to a full refund. If your flights and accommodation were booked separately then separate cancellation policies apply. That means that if your accommodation is no longer viable, you should get a refund, but the airline would still expect you to fly and will not offer a refund.

Am I covered by my travel insurance?

Check your policy first — coverage can vary significantly, even with the same provider. Many policies have clauses on extreme weather, which means you should be able to recoup some of your costs if you need to cancel or if your trip is curtailed.

If your holiday is a package that includes travel and accommodation booked from the same supplier, and comes with an Atol certificate, you’re covered for cancellation, curtailment or repatriation under the package travel regulations. This means if the operator cancels your trip, or if one element of your trip becomes unviable, you can agree to a cancellation and get a full refund. This doesn’t cover situations where you decide to cancel. You’ll still need travel insurance for accident and health cover.

If you’ve put your holiday together yourself — a DIY booking — you do not have protection under the package holiday regulations and will be more dependent on insurance.

In that case, says Anna-Marie Duthie, travel insurance expert at Defaqto: “If government advice changes, advising against travel to the area after you have booked your trip, then you can be covered for cancellation or curtailment. You can also be covered for additional travel and accommodation costs should your trip be disrupted due to a catastrophic event if your insurer offers this cover, or you have paid for the option to include it.

“In many cases, this will cover you being unable to use your booked accommodation due to ‘fire’. However, each insurer will define these events differently so it’s key to check your terms and conditions to understand what cover you have.”

https://www.thetimes.com/travel/advice/wildfires-greece-safe-to-travel-latest-flrxcmxj2

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