Athens, July 22 (AFP\/APP): More than 2,000 people were ferried to safety from beaches on the Greek island of Rhodes on Saturday, where a wildfire has been raging out of control for five days.<\/p>\n
Three coastguard boats were leading more than 30 private vessels in the emergency evacuation, while a Greek navy boat was heading to the area.<\/p>\n
According to the Greek coastguard, people were being picked up from Kiotari and Lardos beaches on the east of the Mediterranean island popular with tourists.<\/p>\n
The coastguard said over 1,500 people has already been evacuated to a safe beach.<\/p>\n
From the moment the evacuation alert sounded early in the afternoon, tourists pulled their suitcases bean heading for the beach, some pushing strollers carrying small children.<\/p>\n
Some of those seeking rescue had been unable to contact their airlines and missed their flights.<\/p>\n
According to local authorities, a total of 30,000 people were taken away from the evacuated areas by all means.<\/p>\n
ERT TV reported that some firefighters were stranded in the Ypseni Monastery near Lardos after attempting to convince the nuns living there to leave the area.<\/p>\n
The firefighters, along with their commander, were said to be safe.
\nDeputy Fire Chief Yannis Artapoios said the blaze on Rhodes, which broke out on a mountain in the centre of the island, was the most difficult the Fire Department forces there have faced.<\/p>\n
Five helicopters and 173 firefighters were operating in the area.<\/p>\n
Three hotels in the Kiotari area have been damaged by the fire, and thirty buses were used to evacuate tourists from two hotels as a precaution.
\nThe battle to extinguish the fire in Rhodes continues in the area of Laermon and Lardos, where it is raging out of control.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Athens, July 22 (AFP\/APP): More than 2,000 people were ferried to safety from beaches on the Greek island of Rhodes on Saturday, where a wildfire has been raging out of control for five days. Three coastguard boats were leading more than 30 private vessels in […]<\/p>\n
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