Hundreds of holidaymakers were evacuated by small boats from beaches in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece as wildfires ravaged the area on Thursday, August 13. Water-bombing planes, helicopters and firefighters worked to stop the blaze.
Blaze destroys homes and resorts
Homes and popular resorts were destroyed within hours of the fire starting. Greece's civil protection agency sent evacuation warnings by phone to people in the two resorts. A wall of flames, about three kilometres long and up to 30 metres high, closed in on the resorts.
The blaze approached from inland, with flames destroying holiday apartments and their sea-facing balconies. The area's dense pine forests supported the raging wildfire, and authorities banned the public from entering the forests.
Sea evacuation under way
Fire service officials and ERT public television said more than 480 tourists in bathing costumes were evacuated by sea in small boats and coast guard and fire brigade vessels. Some people gripped children or pets, while others wore face masks, as they boarded dinghies and boats in the seaside town.
The evacuation had to be by sea as the flames were getting close to the beaches, a fire service spokesman said. Some of those evacuated were moved to nearby beaches, while about 200 others were taken to a ship waiting at sea.
Winds threaten further spread
Weather forecasters have predicted winds of up to 100km/h on Friday, posing the threat that wildfires could quickly spread.
