Manchester family describe "absolute mayhem" after Rhodes wedding "up in flames"

They had travelled out to the Greek island for the wedding which was supposed to be on Tuesday

Author: Owen ArandsPublished 24th Jul 2023
Last updated 24th Jul 2023

A Manchester family have described scenes of absolute mayhem after plans for a dream wedding on the Greek island of Rhodes went "up in flames".

Sharon Hamoudi's son was due to get married on the Greek island tomorrow but within an hour of arriving on Saturday, they received emergency texts to evacuate.

Thousands of British people are currently being evacuated from the Island which is being ravaged by devesting fires.

Sharon told us: "We said to the airport lady, are you sure it is safe that we can go? Because if it's not, we won't go.

"We're all sat there saying, shall we just not go, but in my heart of hearts. I had a son who should be getting married and I just thought, no, I need to be there."

"We got off the plane and it was absolutely manic, people everywhere, no busses they didn't have a clue when the bus was going to come for our hotel.

"We all decided just to get back to my hotel as it should have been safe. The next bit of this ordeal is that we go to our hotel, they were absolutely amazing.

"We were in the hotel less than half an hour and all our phones started going off - evacuate. We look out the window and you can see the file in the distance."

"We get back to the airport and it was absolute mayhem again, people were sleeping on the floors. Everything in the hotel was burning down including passports

"It feels like it's just been one big nightmare. And then my son and daughter-in-law saw the beautiful wedding that they'd planned for so long, up in flames

"Most of us have got no clothes from the holiday. Nothing. We just came back with a little bag but we're safe and that's the main thing.

"The emotional roller coaster is unbelievable and it is so sad for the people of Rhodes, their buildings, their livelihoods have all been taken."

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