LONDON: Around two thousand holidaymakers were evacuated from Rhodes Island, Greece, by sea as wildfires continued to spread to settlements.
Fire Service spokesman Yannis Artopios said that holidaymakers were evacuated from two beaches on the island, Anadolu Agency reported citing Greek media reports.
Artopios said 3 coast guard vessels, special forces inflatables, an army lifeboat, and thirty private sailboats helped in the evacuation of tourists.
Early Saturday, tourists in Kiotari were first shifted to a nearby beach and then to more safe areas on the island.
Residents in the villages of Pylonas, Asklipios, Lardos, and Kiotari were also advised to shift to Gennadi, the Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Ministry in the country.
Over 200 firefighters and extinguisher aircraft are battling the fires for the 5th day amid hot and dry weather.
Greece has been struggling to extinguish wildfires, with firefighting jets from many countries, including Turkiye, arriving to assist in putting down the flames that burned houses and damaged the environment.
Flights to Greece Cancelled
Moreover, holiday operator TUI Group said on Sunday that it canceled flights and booked holidays to the island because of ongoing blazes.
Europe’s largest holiday group said on Twitter that TUI has cancelled all flights and booked holidays to Rhodes for departures up to and including Tuesday, 25 July.
It said the decision was taken as the situation on the island was volatile and difficult.
Late Saturday, the company asked its customers to amend their bookings.
