Wildfire burns as 2,000 people evacuated on Greek island of Rhodes

Tourists were seen boarding busses in Rhodes after the Greek government ordered a mass evacuation of the island

A large fire burning on the Greek island of Rhodes for a sixth day has forced authorities to evacuate four locations, including two seaside resorts.

British tourists are among the 2,000 people who were helped to safety, on Saturday, as part of a mass evacuation, involving dozens of firefighters, 20 private boats and a Greek navy vessel.

British airline Jet2 announced it has cancelled all flights that were due to depart to Rhodes on Sunday and is keeping the situation under "constant review".

In previous days, the wildfire was confined to the island's mountainous centre, but high temperatures and winds have spread it towards populated areas.

Wildfires outside Athens forced thousands to flee seaside resorts and gutted vacation homes, as John Irvine reported earlier this week

Writing on Twitter, one person described it as the "scariest moment in my entire life", saying he and his family waded into the sea to escape the flames before finding sanctuary on a fishing trawler.

Local media reported the fires had reached three hotels, whose clients had already been evacuated.

Fire Service spokesman Yannis Artopios said on Saturday afternoon the residents of four localities were sent texts to evacuate.

Mr Artopios added that more than 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines were operating on the ground, helped overhead by three planes and five helicopters.

The force includes 31 firefighters from Slovakia, with five fire engines.

The main front of the fire is a triangle, with each side appearing on maps to cover more than six miles.

Three coast guard vessels, plus one from the army, were evacuating people from two beaches, while 20 private boats were assisting and the Greek navy was sending a vessel.

'We were just sunbathing... then the smoke got a lot worse'

British tourist Darren Scott is with his family in a basketball court in Faliraki, a village on the north-east tip of the island, where he estimates 200 or so others are also staying.

He does not know when he will be allowed back to his hotel, but he told ITV News others have had it worse and had their resorts burned down.

"We were just sunbathing, as you do on holiday, and then all of a sudden the smoke got a lot worse and we got an urgent message on our phone from the government," he said.

Hotel staff said it was just a precaution, he added, but they advised them to pack a small bag just in case.

A view of the basketball court in Faliraki where have some taken refuge

"Then another message came through for another area, then we were told to make our way down to the beach," he added.

"The information coming and going was a bit vague at the time, but eventually… we got on a coach and didn't have a clue where we're going."

He said they "couldn't have been looked after better" by staff and emergency services and his family are all "doing OK".

Jet2 said it cancelled all five flights it was due to make to Rhodes on Sunday and will instead fly each aircraft without passengers to the Greek island to "bring customers back to the UK on their scheduled flight".

The airline said all affected customers would be contacted and offered a full refund plus the opportunity to rebook.

Thomas Cook said 40 of its customers were at hotels in Lardos and Kiotari - the areas most affected by the fire.

A spokesman for the firm said: "We are monitoring closely the wildfires in Rhodes and are in touch with our customers who are on holiday there."

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly tweeted: "The safety of British Nationals is our top priority. I encourage those in Rhodes, and those with family and friends there, to continue checking FCDO travel advice for updates."

The Foreign Office updated its foreign travel advice on the heatwaves and wildfires in Europe.

It said: "If you are a British national affected by wildfires in Rhodes, please follow the guidance from the emergency services. Call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger.

"The Greek government has established a crisis management Unit to facilitate the evacuation of foreign citizens from Rhodes. They can be contacted on +30 210 368 1730. For 24/7 British consular assistance, call +4420 7008 5000.

"If you are planning to travel to Rhodes, please check with your travel operator or hotel prior to travel that the area you plan to visit is not impacted by the current wildfires,"

How much worse could the fire get?

The fire in Rhodes is the most dangerous of several that are active across Greece, Mr Artopios said.

The fire north-west of Athens and one near Sparta were subsiding, he said, although the conditions, including forecasts of 45C on Sunday, mean more wildfires might break out.

The fire service has designated almost the whole eastern part of the mainland, plus the islands of Evia and Rhodes as well as large swaths of the southwest, as Category 5 - the highest for the risk of fire outbreaks on Sunday.

A further chunk of the country has been designated as Category 4 - very high risk.

There will be a brief respite in the heatwave on Monday, but it is expected to resume the following day and could last until at least Friday, meteorologists have warned.

Firefighting forces from eight European Union (EU) countries are either operating or due to arrive soon, Artopios said.

Israel, Jordan and Turkey have also sent reinforcements, mostly aerial equipment.

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