Crete, the biggest Greek island, is the lastest to be put on high alert for wildfires as a firefighting plane crashed in southern Greece while dousing a blaze on Tuesday.
Crete and Rhodes are at extreme risk of wildfires, civil protection authorities said on Tuesday, as the Greek Prime Minister held emergency talks with senior members of government.
Temperatures have risen above 40C again in parts of Greece following more night-time evacuations from fires that have raged out of control for days.
The latest evacuation orders were issued on the islands of Corfu and Evia while a blaze on the island of Rhodes continued to move inland, torching mountainous forest areas, including part of a nature reserve.
Authorities said that more than 20,000 people have been involved in evacuations on the island, mostly tourists over the weekend, when fire swept through two coastal areas on the south east of Rhodes.
Several airlines, including easyJet and package operator Tui, sent planes to Rhodes to evacuate tourists forced out of hotels. The UK government said between 7,000 and 10,000 British nationals are on the island.
The European Union has sent 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles and seven planes from 10 member states, while Turkey, Israel, Egypt and other countries have also sent help.
“For the 12th day, under extreme conditions of heat and strong winds, we are fighting non-stop on dozens of forest fire fronts... The Greek Fire Service has battled more than 500 fires - more than 50 a day,” said Vassilis Kikilias, the minister for climate crisis and civil protection.
In Athens, authorities resumed afternoon closing hours at the ancient Acropolis as part of broader measures to cope with the high heat.
EU officials have blamed climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires across the European continent, noting that 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfire damage on record after 2017.
On Corfu people in the northern village of Loutses have been told to head towards Acharavi, further west.
Meanwhile a firefighting plane crashed on Evia, near Athens, killing at least two people on board, according to AFP news agency.
A fire had been burning on the island and the plane appeared to be dousing it with water before crashing. State broadcaster ERT showed the low-flying aircraft disappearing into a canyon before a fireball was seen moments later.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis warned of tough days ahead on Tuesday as ministers met to discuss a response to wildfires that have destroyed homes and forced the evacuation of thousands of tourists from the island of Rhodes.
Firefighters battled blazes that have raged on the island since Wednesday and more emergency flights were due to land to fly home holidaymakers.
Mr Mitsotakis told parliament on Monday the country was “at war” and said on Tuesday the next days would be difficult, with conditions possibly improving after Thursday.
An assessment by scientists published on Tuesday said human-induced climate change has played an “absolutely overwhelming” role in the extreme heatwaves that have swept across North America, southern Europe and China this month.
In Greece, a prosecutor on Rhodes launched an investigation into the causes of the fires and the preparedness and response of authorities, state broadcaster ERT said.
It said about 10 per cent of the island’s land area had burned.
