Up to 10,000 British tourists are stranded on the wildfire-stricken Greek island of Rhodes, according to the UK government, as a spokesperson said it was possible official travel advice would change.
Earlier on Monday, a Foreign Office minister had declined to advise people not to travel, suggesting instead that they contact their tour operator.
Andrew Mitchell also said evacuations were not taking place on Corfu, parts of which were also ablaze, as had been reported. He said this was because the fires there were not affecting tourist areas.
Firefighters are battling 82 wildfires across the country, 64 of which started on Sunday, the hottest day of the summer so far.
The holiday firms Tui and Thomas Cook have cancelled trips to Rhodes. However, Tui was criticised for continuing to send people to the island on Sunday – even as the gravity of the situation was clear.
The government was facing calls on Monday to change its stance on the categorisation of Rhodes, to enable tourists to get a refund for their trips under their travel insurance.
Alicia Kearns, a Conservative MP who chairs the Commons foreign affairs select committee, said she was also in favour of moving to advise against travel to Rhodes, but added that she understood why the government was reluctant.
“The reality of the government’s position is in line with our allies in Europe, because no one wants to compromise Greece’s heavily tourism-dependent economy at this time,” she said.
“Ultimately, we need companies to step up and recognise that people will not be able to have the holiday that was booked for them. I know there is a statutory duty for the government to get British citizens home if they are in trouble, but travel companies have to live up to their obligations rather than making profits from flights carrying tourists out, and then stepping away and letting the government sort out how to get them home in some cases.”
The Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson, Layla Moran, said that Rhodes should immediately be added to the “red list” of places to which the Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel.
“Many families are unable to make a claim against their insurance – leaving them paying the penalty for deciding not to fly out to the island,” said the MP.
On Sunday, Greece undertook its largest ever evacuation effort, moving 19,000 people – primarily tourists – from villages and resorts on Rhodes as wildfires fanned by high-speed winds raged for a sixth day.
The British prime minister’s spokesperson told reporters shortly before lunchtime on Monday: “Our advice is focused on the safety of British nationals and enabling people to make an informed decision about the situation on the ground.”
“The current situation is impacting on a limited area in Rhodes and whilst it’s right to keep it under review and it’s possible that the advice may change, we do not want to act out of proportion to the situation on the ground.”
He said there are “not currently” plans to get the RAF to help people leave.
On Sunday, travel firms and airlines were being encouraged to reimburse passengers who had decided not to fly to Rhodes.
Mitchell put his “best estimate” of the number of British tourist on Rhodes at between 7,000 and 10,000. When asked if the government was officially advising against more people travelling there on Monday, Mitchell said holidaymakers should contact their tour operator.
“There were only 10 free beds on the whole island when I asked yesterday. But we think something like 1,000 beds may well come back on stream today as others don’t now come and therefore more beds are available,” he told Times Radio.
Mitchell said the government was not advising against travel to Rhodes because “it’s important to remember that only 10% of the island is affected by these fires, and therefore it is the tourist companies and the holiday experts who are best placed to give guidance on whether or not a family or individuals’ holidays are going to be ruined by these events.”
Asked if he would personally go on holiday there at the moment, he said: “I think I probably wouldn’t. But the point is that if I had booked a holiday I would take advice and would take advice also from the tour operator.”
On Sunday night, local authorities ordered the evacuation of five small settlements on Corfu. However, Mitchell told BBC Breakfast on Monday morning: “The information I had one minute before this interview started is that there are not any evacuations from Corfu, there had been movement of people overnight within Corfu but this morning they have been sent back to their earlier accommodation. So I hope the situation is a little better and more stable than your reports suggests.”
Earlier Mitchell had told Sky News he was not sure how many UK citizens were on Corfu, adding: “The position on Corfu is very different. The fires are not taking place in residential areas or holiday areas.”
