Tourists evacuated as fast-moving wildfires take hold on Crete
People were moved from from three sites near the port of Ierapetra on the island's south coast. Homes have been destroyed as flames sweep through hillside forests, uncontained by firefighting efforts.
Nektarios Papadakis, a regional civil protection official, said: 'It's a very difficult situation. The fire is very hard to contain. Right now, they cannot contain it.'
'The tourists who were moved out are all OK. They have been taken to an indoor basketball arena and hotels in other regions of the island,' he added. The authorities said hundreds had been moved out of homes and hotels, with the number expected to increase overnight.
The fire service and a civil protection agency issued mobile phone alerts and appealed to residents not to return to try and save their property.
People have been treated for breathing difficulties, officials said, but there were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
More than 150 firefighters were in the area, while water-dropping aircraft and helicopters remained grounded overnight. Hillside fire breaks were created in an attempt to slow the advance of the blaze.
Crete is one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations. The risk of wildfires remained very high across Crete and parts of southern Greece on Thursday, according to a daily bulletin issued by the fire service.
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