The largest fire in Greece so far has broken out in Rhodes. It is already covering at least 10 per cent of the island. The battle to bring the fires under control has been going on for a week, with firefighters constantly extinguishing the flames and being actively involved in the evacuation of tourists, The Guardian reports.

Greece "at war with fire"

Greece experienced its hottest temperatures in 50 years at the weekend, with highs in the central region of Thessaly reaching 45 degrees Celsius. The hot, dry and windy conditions have been likened to a "superfood" for the fires that consume the island of Rhodes, among others.

With the help of water-dropping aircraft authorities are working around the clock to bring the numerous fires under control. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made it clear that the country is "at war with fire". He also warns the Greek parliament that the country faces difficult days ahead, as fires are also raging on the islands of Evia and Corfu.

"This battle is uneven, and it will keep being like that for as long as the conditions remain hard," Mitsotakis told the Greek parliament, quoted by The Guardian. "We find ourselves at war with fire," he added.

Chaotic evacuation of tourists in Rhodes

Fires in resorts in the south-east of Rhodes forced what officials described as the "largest evacuation in Greek history". As a result 19,000 people - mainly tourists - moved to the north of the island by land and sea.

Greek authorities also stepped up evacuations on two other islands, ordering people to leave their homes and hotels. It is estimated that almost 2,500 citizens fled their homes in 17 villages along the northern coast of Corfu overnight. The situation is slightly less dramatic in Evia, where fires have forced "only" hundreds of people to evacuate.

Government experts are due to travel to Rhodes and other regions affected by the fires in the coming days to assess the scale of the disaster and estimate the amount of damage in order to start the compensation process. Countless homes, businesses and farm plots are believed to have been lost in the blaze.

According to estimates provided by The Guardian, the man-made climate crisis has extended the fire season by an average of around two weeks worldwide. It is also responsible for a higher probability of wildfires and even more burnt areas in southern Europe.