Following a protracted drought and dry weather, some parts of Greece have experienced tinderbox-like conditions that, when paired with exceptionally strong winds, have created blazing infernos in some areas.
The situation “got significantly worse” throughout the course of the day, according to 38-year-old Clare Smith, who is vacationing in Kos with her husband and 9-year-old daughter. She described seeing “thick plumes of black smoke” billow into the news.
The Edinburgh family was staying at a hotel near the resort town of Kardamena when they got notifications on their phones about the wildfire that was forcing people in the area to evacuate.
“People are nervous,” Ms. Smith stated. After spending the rest of the evening in waiting, her family and the other guests were informed that their hotel was being evacuated and coaches were en route to retrieve them.
She estimated the distance of the wildfire to be between five and six miles, and claimed they had been observing multiple planes and helicopters as they “constantly” fought to contain it throughout the day.
