Updated 20.50 | Published 20.37
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full screenJessica and Thor-Leif Weber. Photo: Private
Chaos ensued when the hotel was evacuated as a result of the fires on the island of Kos.
But Thor-Leif Weber and his family were left behind.
– Apollo wrote that we should take a bus to the evacuation area and we went down to the road, but there was no bus there, he says.
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Thor-Leif Weber, 47, and his wife Jessica, 45, had brought their three children for a quiet holiday on the Greek paradise island of Kos. But on Monday, that plan was turned upside down.
– We were down by the pool at the hotel. Then we suddenly saw smoke rising from the ridge above us and then we got an alarm on our phones, he says.
The Greek authorities then warned that they were in the vicinity of the forest fire that was ravaging the island.
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1 / 2Photo: Private
“Then chaos broke out”
The family then received a message from Apollo, through which they booked the trip, to contact reception for more information.
– They said that we could feel calm and that the situation was under control. So we made our way down to the hotel restaurant for dinner.
But when they were on their way back to the room, they were met by two tour guides from Tui.
– They were in the process of evacuating their travelers from the hotel and then chaos broke out. We and several others tried to contact Apollo in the middle of the disaster but got no response.
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full screen Photo: Private
“No bus found”
At 10:30 p.m., the travel company announced that the family needed to evacuate.
– Apollo wrote that we should take a bus to the evacuation area and we went down to the road, but there was no bus there. We tried to contact the tour guide again but got no response. When we asked the Tui staff if we could go on their bus, we got the answer that “you have to contact Apollo”.
It was worst for the children who are 10, 12 and 13 years old.
– It was very difficult for them. We could see the entire belt of fire along the mountain and the kids wanted to leave the country.
The hotel’s employees then said they would stay and the response from Apollo was delayed until 08:30 on Tuesday morning.
– Then they wrote that there was no longer any danger and that everyone would soon be able to return to their hotels. They have really handled this very badly.
Apollo: “Some lack of clarity in our communication”
The hotel was initially included in the evacuation order.
– But it changed very quickly after the authorities’ decision. At that time, the hotel was not covered by the mandatory evacuation order, says Apollo’s press manager Martina Krantz and continues:
– We have had a certain lack of clarity in our communication because there have been many quick decisions. Everything happens very quickly and then I can understand that it can be perceived as very messy given the situation we had yesterday.
During Tuesday morning, the travelers who were evacuated could return to their hotels, after the fires calmed down. Thor-Leif is still upset about Apollo’s handling, but will try to enjoy the time they have left on the island.
– The hotel was almost empty this morning. It’s the first day we don’t have to set the clock to put out the pool towels. We will be there all day, he says.