Tourists evacuated as fire tears through Greek resorts

Hundreds of tourists and residents have been evacuated as a forest fire swept through resorts in northern Greece, destroying homes and cars.

Several people were taken to hospital with breathing problems but no serious injuries were reported as the fire burned out of control on the three-pronged Halkidiki peninsula, authorities said.

Coastguard and private boats gathered tourists and residents who fled to beaches and transported them across the Gulf of Cassandra, away from the fire. Others spent the night on the beach, sleeping on sunbeds, and fled by car towards the port city of Thessaloniki,50 miles to the north.

Paul Ruebig, an Austrian member of the European Parliament, was one of the evacuated tourists.

“We don’t know where to go. It’s burning at the front and the back,” he told the Austria Press Agency. “People here are panicking and are fearing for their lives.”

Authorities said the pattern of the fire’s progress indicated arson.

A disaster was declared in Halkidiki after the fire across the Cassandra area destroyed at least 20 homes and several businesses, as more than 250 firefighters, soldiers and volunteers battled flames.

Homes, hotels and campsites – including a children’s summer camp – were safely evacuated, as the fire damaged the resorts of Polychrono, Hanioti, Kriopigi and Pefkochori.

“This is a very difficult fire. The terrain is rugged and the fire is burning on several fronts. There are forecasts that the winds will strengthen. That would make our work very difficult,” Greek fire chief Andreas Kois said.

Tanker planes and helicopters cannot fly at night and could only assist the effort from 7am (5am Irish time), Kois said.

The fire broke out amid a heatwave across south-east Europe, with temperatures in some areas reaching 42C. Three other fires were reported in southern Greece and on the western island of Zakynthos.

“It is a situation out of control. The fire is raging across the first prong of the peninsula. Firefighting forces are being bolstered continuously,” Constantinos Kokkolakis of Greece’s Civil Protection Agency said.

“Several homes, cars, and a supermarket have been destroyed. Most of the people have gone down to the sea.”

Authorities said the fire had caused a blackout in the area, and said several roads had been closed to incoming traffic to give fire engines better access.

Regional governor Panayiotis Psomiadis visited the scene of the fire by motorcycle.

“This is one of the most beautiful areas of Greece and it’s being destroyed,” Psomiadis said. “The fire is totally out of control. I’m praying that it rains.”