A heatwave that has been baking Europe for the past week has created prime conditions for wildfires to break out in Greece and Türkiye.
Summer blazes are common in the eastern Mediterranean region, where experts warn that climate change is exacerbating the situation.
If you are planning to travel to wildfire-prone areas this summer, here are some precautions you can take to ensure your safety should an emergency situation occur.
Europe battles first wildfires of the summer
Last week, firefighters in Turkiye battled to contain flames tearing through forested hillsides in the west of the country.
The wildfires that broke out in at least five locations across Turkiye’s Aegean coastal province of İzmir were fuelled by soaring temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity.
On Sunday, United Nations teams were deployed to the Syrian coast, where firefighters are battling the flames for a fourth day.
Fires flared on both sides of the Turkish-Syrian frontier over the weekend.
In Greece, authorities deployed eight helicopters and eight water-dropping planes on Friday to contain the new fire that erupted in Koropi, some 35 kilometres south of the capital.
The blaze follows a separate fire outside Athens and a coastal wildfire on the island of Crete, where more than 5,000 tourists, hotel workers and residents were evacuated from seaside areas on the south coast.
How to prepare for a holiday in wildfire-prone destinations this summer
A key precautionary measure when visiting wildfire-prone destinations is staying informed of any warnings.
Before your trip, research the specific area you’re visiting and be aware of the fire danger ratings and local emergency procedures.
Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts. You can do this by going into Settings, followed by Notifications, and Enabling Alerts.
Monitor local news, weather forecasts, and fire updates through official channels like emergency apps and websites.
If travelling to Greece, for example, register for alerts from the Greek government’s Emergency Communication Service.
The UK government also recommends preparing a ‘grab bag’ of essentials, including passports and ID cards, mobile phones and chargers, money and bank cards, essential medicine, and insurance documents.
Ensure you have the right travel insurance for wildfire coverage
When booking travel insurance, make sure you choose a policy that will refund you or entitle you to compensation should wildfires affect your holiday.
This is particularly important if you choose not to go ahead with your trip, even if the airline, tour operator or accommodation has not cancelled your bookings.
This is because, without an official ‘no-go’ warning from foreign governments, travellers who choose not to go ahead with their trip are unlikely to receive reimbursement or compensation, as this is considered “disinclination to travel”.
The vast majority of travel insurance policies will also not cover situations of “loss of enjoyment” due to wildfires, which includes being unable to leave your hotel.
Travellers can only expect refunds if their flights or accommodation are cancelled by airlines, providers or tour companies.
Some insurance policies include trip disruption or natural disaster cover, which usually applies to wildfire-related issues, but not every company will offer this, so make sure you have the correct insurance before you leave.
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