More than 2,000 visitors and locals, including British tourists, had to be evacuated from beaches as Rhodes, a Greek island, continues to burn due to out-of-control wildfires.
On Saturday, the coast guard received assistance from dozens of private boats to transport them to safety from four locations, including the south-eastern resorts of Kiotari and Lardos.
As the five-day fire rages on, several have recounted ‘terrifying’ scenes of pandemonium, with power outages producing ‘chaos’ and a lack of information from travel firms.
The blaze had previously been confined to the island’s mountainous centre before a change in wind caused it to veer towards the coast on the central-eastern side.
Local media reported it threatened to engulf three hotels in the seaside village of Kiotari, which had already been emptied.
Fire Service spokesman Yannis Artopios said on Saturday that more wildfires could break out as temperatures are set to reach 45C on Sunday.
Thomas Cook said 40 of its customers were at hotels in Lardos and Kiotari – the areas most affected by the fire.
Greek television showed long queues of tourists dragging their luggage on foot, while smoke could be seen billowing in the background.
Tourists described chaos on social media, with Paul Karlburgi writing: ‘Currently stranded in Rhodes escaping the wildfires on foot – left everything at the hotel and fled with towels across our faces.
‘My youngest just told me he doesn’t want to die. No news from any authorities. Terrifying situation here.’
Corinne Watson, 42, who is holidaying with her husband and two sons, said she had only received one automated text message from Tui, telling her they were ‘sorry for any disruptions’.
The mother-of-two said: ‘Our hotel has accepted some evacuees and hosted a few while other accommodation was found.
‘Power losses affecting the kitchens has caused chaos but hotel staff are working exceptionally hard to manage the situation – they must be very worried for their island.
‘Hotel staff [are] working flat out under desperate worry.’
However, she said Tui had offered a ‘poor service’ with no information on whether her area was safe or what to do in the event of an evacuation.
Ms Watson, a local government worker from Cumbria, added: ‘Today the sky has rarely been blue and we have had the water planes above us frequently collecting from the sea.
‘Getting information is very difficult. Currently we are lucky, in a lovely hotel and hope it stays that way.
‘For others, both tourists and locals, it is awful and terrifying. I hope they bring them under control quickly with limited damage.’
Sarah Roberts told the Telegraph she could see flames ‘lapping the hills’ as she and her family fled the five-star Mitsis Rodos Village Beach Hotel and Spa.
She said: ‘People were still trying to take their suitcases along the beach, it was horrendous and stupid to see.
‘There was one tourist boat with one guy trying to board women and children but men were barging past and arguing, delaying the effort. It was horrific.’
Simon Wheatley told the BBC: ‘We were told by police that we had to evacuate the building because the air was just unbreathable – it had turned bright orange and black above our heads.’
Katie Piercefield-Holmes added it was ‘really quite terrifying’.
A spokesman for Thomas Cook said: ‘We are monitoring closely the wildfires in Rhodes and are in touch with our customers who are on holiday there.
‘Our teams are in regular contact with our holidaymakers on the island currently as well as those about to depart to discuss their options.’
There will be a brief respite in the heatwave on Monday, but it will resume on Tuesday and could last until at least Friday, meteorologists have said.
Firefighting forces from eight EU countries are either operating or due to arrive soon, Mr Artopios said.
Israel, Jordan and Turkey have also sent reinforcements, mostly aerial equipment.
Both Tui and the Foreign Office have been approached for comment.
Fires are common in Greece but hotter, drier and windy summers have turned the country into a tinderbox in recent years.
Mr Artopios said the blaze in Rhodes is the most dangerous of several burning across Greece.
One northwest of Athens and another near Sparta are easing, he said, although others may still erupt.