Evacuations continue as thousands flee Greece fires

UNITED KINGDOM, July 25: Evacuations are taking place in Greece as wildfires continue to grip the island of Rhodes.

Holidaymakers are arriving in the UK on repatriation flights after hundreds already left the island, where Greek officials say the fires remain out of control.

As many as 10,000 Britons were estimated to be staying in Rhodes, and the fires have forced 19,000 people to leave their homes. No injuries have been reported yet.

Tourists were forced to flee hotels and sleep outside as fires spread toward resorts on the eastern coast.

Greece says it has launched its biggest rescue in response to the wildfires emergency, and Corfu and Evia have also issued evacuation orders.

A European heatwave has helped create dry conditions that let fires take hold in Greece - and heatwaves are becoming hotter, longer and more frequent because of climate change.

(BBC)