Forest fires on Rhodes – FDFA information

The situation at Rhodes International Airport has returned to normal. Therefore, the counter for persons with Swiss nationality was closed on the evening of 26 July 2023. This arrangement had allowed to respond to various requests from Swiss nationals. It facilitated access to check-in for ordinary and special flights to Switzerland. If necessary, the Honorary Consulate of Rhodes can be reached at +30 224 103 61 55 / +30 694 737 63 05.

Since the start of the evacuation announcements for the affected areas, the FDFA Helpline and the representation on site have responded to around 210 requests relating to the situation on Rhodes. These enquiries have come from people currently on the island, concerned relatives or people planning a trip to Greece.

The FDFA is continuing to monitor the fire situation in Greece closely. The FDFA reminds Swiss citizens and tourists on the island to follow the instructions of the local authorities, who have set up two telephone lines for foreign citizens: +30 210 368 12 59 / +30 210 368 13 50. In an emergency, the FDFA Helpline can be contacted 24/7 on +41 800 24 7 365 or by email at helpline@eda.admin.ch.

The FDFA is closely monitoring the situation concerning the fires in Greece. The Swiss Embassy in Athens is in contact with the responsible authorities on the ground. The Honorary Consulate on the ground remains open to assist Swiss nationals as necessary and in accordance with established rules. Following the arrival of a consular officer, a Swiss counter has been opened at Rhodes International Airport to assist persons with Swiss nationality on site.

Since the start of the evacuations from the affected areas, the FDFA helpline and the representation on the ground have answered around 150 enquiries about the situation on Rhodes. The FDFA confirms that Swiss nationals are among the evacuees, but has no definitive overview of the number of Swiss citizens affected by the evacuations. It has no information on Swiss victims.

The FDFA has adjusted its travel advice for Greece, which had already pointed out the high risk of forest fires in the summer months. The adjustments were actively communicated, including via the Travel Admin app. In general, the FDFA recommends that all Swiss people travelling abroad register there to benefit from useful information and services for travellers. The travel advice recommends, among other things, to follow the instructions of the authorities, to get information about the current situation in the media before and during the trip and to stay in contact with their travel organiser. Persons with Swiss nationality who are registered in the Swiss Abroad Register for Greece have also been informed. They also have the option of subscribing to the FDFA's travel tips. Please note that these do not contain information on weather developments or various natural disasters.

The FDFA reminds Swiss nationals and tourists on the ground to follow the instructions of the local authorities. They have provided two phone lines for foreign citizens: +30 210 368 12 59 / +30 210 368 13 50. In crisis situations, Swiss nationals abroad should inform themselves about the current situation, in particular via the media, communications from local authorities and the FDFA websites. The decision whether to go ahead with a trip or to cancel it is at the discretion and responsibility of the travellers themselves.

As Rhodes International Airport operates normally, return trips must be organised individually or through a travel agency. In case of a request for consular protection, the Honorary Consulate of Rhodes can be contacted on +30 224 103 61 55 / +30 694 737 63 05. In urgent cases, the FDFA helpline can be contacted around the clock on +41 800 24 7 365 or by e-mail to helpline@eda.admin.ch.