More than 20 boats took part in an evacuation operation on the tourist island of Rhodes, Greece, on Saturday, where a forest fire has been raging for five days. According to the Greek coastguard, the evacuees were on the beaches of Kiotari and Lardos, on the east coast of this Mediterranean island.
Three coastguard boats were carrying out the operation, which involved more than 20 private boats, while a Greek navy vessel headed for the area. About a thousand people have already been evacuated to another beach, according to media reports.
According to the television channel ERT TV, firefighters had to take refuge in the monastery of Ypseni, near Lardos. Firefighters and their commander were left stranded in the monastery after trying to convince the nuns there to leave.
According to Deputy Fire Chief Yannis Artapoios, the fire, which started in a mountain in the center of the island, is the most difficult that Rhodes firefighters have faced.
Five helicopters and 173 firefighters are engaged to fight the fire. Three hotels in the Kiotari sector suffered damage. Greece is currently experiencing an exceptionally long heatwave, with temperatures expected to rise above 44°C this weekend.