Hundreds of holidaymakers were evacuated from beaches as water-bombing planes, helicopters and firefighters fought to stop the blaze
Tourists in a region of northern Greece have been evacuated by small boats as wildfires wreak havoc on the area.
Hundreds of holidaymakers were evacuated from beaches in the Halkidiki region as water-bombing planes, helicopters and firefighters battled the blaze on Thursday, August 13.
Heatwaves sweeping across Europe have contributed to flammable conditions in Spain, France and Greece, sparking raging wildfires that have charred an unprecedented expanse of land.
In the northern Greek region of Halkidiki, the area’s dense pine forests fuelled the ferocious wildfire.
Homes and popular resorts were destroyed within hours of the fire breaking out.
Greece’s civil protection agency issued evacuation alerts via phone to individuals in two resorts.
A towering wall of flames, approximately three kilometres long and up to 30 meters high, bore down on the resorts.
The inferno advanced from inland, with flames engulfing holiday apartments and their sea-facing balconies.
Fire service officials and ERT public television reported that over 480 tourists were evacuated by sea in small boats and coast guard and fire brigade vessels.
Some clung to children or pets, while others donned face masks, as they boarded dinghies and boats in the coastal town.
The evacuation had to be conducted by sea as the flames were encroaching on the beaches, a fire service spokesman explained.
Some of those evacuated were relocated to nearby beaches, while approximately 200 others were transported to a ship waiting offshore.
Weather experts have forecasted winds of up to 100km/h on Friday, posing the risk that wildfires could rapidly spread.