Emergency departure flights for tourists wishing to leave Rhodes island continuing

A total of 17 emergency outbound flights were carried out at Rhodes International Airport from Sunday to 15:00 on Monday, carrying 2,115 passengers cutting short their holidays due to fires on the island, a statement from the Office of Infrastructures and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras said on Monday, ANA reports.

It said the processing was becoming normalized.

A total of 21 such flights were expected to take place in total on Monday at one of Greece's busiest airports and to continue during the next few days for tourists who prefer to leave the island after being evacuated from their holiday facilities. They were housed at the airport, at schools, and at other facilities on the island since the initial fire broke out on July 18, with some leaving their belongings behind.

Special areas have been set aside for those departing the island and foldable beds put up by Civil Protection, with priority given to families with young children. Food, bottled water, and basic needs are provided free of charge to all passengers, in collaboration with local agencies. The airport is also collaborating closely with travel agents to help departing passengers.

The departures of tourists proceeded smoothly under the coordination of Infrastructures and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras, who paid a visit to the airport on Sunday. He said that he was in contact with airport authorities "who in tandem with related agencies continue to provide any possible help to serve passengers."

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