Holidaymakers flee as wildfires sweep across Rhodes

British tourists were among more than 2,000 people ferried to safety from beaches after wildfires swept across the Greek island of Rhodes. The coastguard, army and more than 30 private boats were working to rescue swathes of people from the south-eastern part of the island, with a navy ship also dispatched to join the evacuation effort. According to the Greek coastguard, people were being picked up from Kiotari and Lardos beaches on the east of the popular Mediterranean island. The operation had been hampered by fires cutting off some road access, according to George Hadjimarkos, regional governor of the South Aegean, leaving some tourists to travel to safety on foot. They are being looked after in local gyms and schools, as well as three passenger ferries moored at the port of Rhodes. Videos showed crowds of tourists walking away from billowing, black smoke as flames burnt through buildings and vegetation behind them, with some pushing prams carrying small children. Read more: #rhodes #wildfires #evacuations Subscribe to The Telegraph with our special offer: just £1 for 3 months. Start your free trial now: Get the latest headlines: and are websites of The Telegraph, the UK’s best-selling quality daily newspaper providing news and analysis on UK and world events, business, sport, lifestyle and culture.