And other travel stories you may have missed last week.
This week in travel, we’ve uncovered several stories that might have flown under your radar. Among them: Santorini warns of a potential imminent earthquake threat; an elephant trampled a tourist in South Africa; and an Italian city goes viral much to the annoyance of locals.
Dive into these and more as we examine the latest in travel news.
NO.1
ELEPHANT TRAMPLES MAN TRYING TO SAVE GRANDCHILD
On January 25, a 59-year-old tourist, Shaik Adam Shabir Ammed, was trampled to death by an elephant near Kruger National Park, South Africa. Ammed was near the Malelane Gate when an elephant charged his grandchildren, ages 5 and 11. His 11-year-old grandson fell while running away, and the elephant attacked the boy’s leg with its trunk. The grandfather intervened to save the boy, but the elephant trampled him and left.
Ammed died of his injuries at the scene. Police are investigating the incident, and South African National Parks (SANParks) told CNN in a statement, “SANParks would like to reiterate that the incident is regrettable and unfortunate, but calls on the public to refrain from speculating, until the police have finalized their report and to allow the family to mourn their loved one in dignity.”
NO.2
MORE THAN 200 EARTHQUAKES PROMPT WARNINGS IN SANTORINI
The picture-perfect island of Santorini has shut schools after more than 200 tremors—the strongest measuring a magnitude of 4.6—were felt in recent days. Airlines are operating additional flights to evacuate people, and authorities have warned residents to avoid large gatherings, CNN reported.
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The spike in seismic activity has raised concerns about a major earthquake and tsunami. Emergency crews have been deployed, and authorities have restricted access to some seaside cliffs. Hotels have been asked to drain swimming pools to prevent damage to buildings in the event of an earthquake. These are precautionary measures to minimize risk, and the situation is being closely monitored.
Although Santorini is an active volcano, Stavros Meletlidis, an expert at Spain’s Instituto Geografico Nacional, says it’s unlikely a major eruption will occur.
NO.3
CROWDS DESCEND ON ITALIAN SKI TOWN AFTER TIKTOK POSTS
More than 260 buses brought over 10,000 tourists to the Italian ski town of Roccaraso on Sunday after a TikToker popularized the city. Naples-based influencer Rita De Crescenzo shared her travel experience in the skiing destination through a series of videos, prompting tour companies in Naples to offer bus trips that weekend for as little as €20.
The day-trippers blocked roads, ignored skiing etiquette, and littered the slopes, angering the town. The municipality is now restricting buses to 100 on Saturdays and Sundays, and companies will have to book online.
Meanwhile, day-trippers accused the town of discrimination against Neapolitans, who are often negatively stereotyped. The mayor denied these claims, saying, “Roccaraso welcomes and wants to welcome more and more tourists, but civil and correct skiers.”
Related: The 10 Worst (and Best) TikTok Travel Trends of 2024
NO.4
UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT EVACUATED AFTER ENGINE FIRE
A United Airlines flight with 104 passengers was evacuated on Sunday after an engine fire was detected. The plane was about to take off from Houston for New York when the crew received information about the issue. Flames were seen coming from the engine. In a video shared online, a flight attendant is heard telling passengers to stay in their seats, while a passenger responds, “No, it’s on fire.”
No one was injured after passengers exited the plane using emergency slides and stairs.
“Please! Please! Please get us out of here!”
Video from inside a United jet after flames were seen coming from the right engine today at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston.
You can hear passengers panicking before using the slides to get off.
📸 Ashlyn Sharp pic.twitter.com/VQNOwKQqCu
— Gage Goulding – KPRC 2 (@GageGoulding) February 2, 2025
NO.5
NEW ZEALAND RELAXES VISA RULES FOR DIGITAL NOMADS
New Zealand has announced relaxed visa restrictions for remote workers. Digital nomads can now work for an overseas company for up to 90 days while vacationing in the country. Beyond this period, they will be required to pay resident taxes. All visa types are eligible for this provision, including tourists, those visiting someone in New Zealand, and partners and guardians.
The move comes after COVID-19-induced tourism struggles. New Zealand completely shut its borders for two years and is currently facing an economic recession. This change is expected to boost the economy. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford stated, “The change will enable many visitors to extend their stays, which will lead to more money being spent in the country.” Remote workers must be engaged in overseas work to ensure job security for New Zealand residents.
Related: This Stunning Country Just Made It Easier to Temporarily Relocate There
