Wildfires force hundreds of British holiday makers to evacuate on four-mile forced march on Greek island of Rhodes in 95F heat – prompting a flood of complaints to holiday companies

Hundreds of tourists have been forced to flee resorts in Rhodes as out-of-control wildfires grip the Greek island of Rhodes, turning the skies orange and filling the air with acrid smoke.

Authorities have ordered an  evacuation of four locations, including two seaside resorts, as a blaze burns on the island for the fifth day.

In previous days, the wildfire was confined to the island’s mountainous centre, but aided by winds, very high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread on Saturday towards the coast on the island’s central-eastern side.

Local media reported the fires had reached three hotels, which had already been evacuated.

Tourists evacuated from their hotels took to social media to describe the terrifying scenes, while claiming they had not received support from holiday companies.

Twitter user Paul Kalburgi wrote: ‘ Currently stranded in #Rhodes escaping the wildfires on foot – left everything at the hotel and fled with towels across our faces. 

‘My youngest just told me he doesn’t want to die. No news from any authorities. Terrifying situation here.’

A firefighting aircraft drops water to extinguish a wildfire in Kiotari village, on Rhodes

A wildfire burns next to a beach near Lindos, on the island of Rhodes

Tourists are lining up waiting to be evacuated as wildfires break out in Lindos on the Greek island of Rhodes

Twitter user John Hughes took a video of the chaotic scenes as the wildfire rages on the island

Hundreds of tourists have been forced to walk miles to safety on the Greek island of Rhodes 

Three coastguard boats were leading more than 20 vessels in an emergency evacuation effort to rescue people from

Holidaymakers board a vessel as a beach in Rhodes becomes engulfed in smoke from nearby wildfires

Twitter user Paul Kalburgi reported that he left the hotel with his children and was told by his youngest that ‘he doesn’t want to die’

John Hughes detailed his evacuation with his child and claimed there had been little support provided to him by holiday company Jet2.

He posted on Twitter: ‘Jet2 where are you? No help, contact or guidance. Had to walk 4 mile in the heat across dirt tracks in smoke and ash with a 5 year old. No possessions. #jet2 #rhodes #lindosimperial’

User Volcaholic said there were scenes of ‘absolute chaos’ as people left without their possessions.

They said: ‘Crowds of hundreds of tourists and locals evacuate via roads to get away from out-of-control fires ravaging the island’. 

Fire Service spokesman Yannis Artopios said on Saturday afternoon that residents of four localities were sent SMS messages to evacuate – in two places they were told to move to the north-east and in two others to the south-west.

Mr Artopios said that more than 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines were operating on the ground, assisted by three planes and five helicopters.

The force includes 31 firefighters from Slovakia, with five fire engines.

The main front of the fire is a triangle, with two of its points near the sea and one in the mountains.

The wildfire was confined to the island’s mountainous centre, but aided by winds, very high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread on Saturday towards the coastline of Rhodes

The wildfires have raged for five days, with authorities issuing an evacuation on Saturday

An empty beach is pictured amidst smoke rising from wildfire burning near Lindos

People try to extinguish a wildfire burning near Lindos, on the island of Rhodes

Tourists were evacuated by boats close to Kiotari village on Rhodes island, Greece on Saturday

Hundreds of tourists have been forced to evacuate from Rhodes as wildfires continue to ravage the Greek island after five days

Families enjoying the summer holidays were forced to pack their belongings hurriedly as evacuations took place on Rhodes, which has been beset by wildfires

Small fishing boats were even used in a bid to remove as many tourists as possible from the island as it burns under searing temperatures

On maps, each side of the triangle appears more than six miles long.

Three coast guard vessels, plus one from the army, were evacuating people from two beaches.

Twenty private boats were assisting and the Greek navy was sending a vessel.

The blaze in Rhodes was the most dangerous of several active fires across Greece, Mr Artopios said.

The fire north-west of Athens and one near Sparta were subsiding, he said, although the conditions, including temperatures set to reach 45C (113F) on Sunday and low humidity (below 15%), mean the danger is not over and more wildfires might break out.

The Fire Service has designated almost the whole eastern part of the mainland, plus the islands of Evia and Rhodes, as well as large swathes of the south-west, as category five, the highest for the risk of fire outbreaks on Sunday.

There will be a brief respite in the heatwave on Monday, but it will resume on Tuesday and could last until at least Friday, meteorologists have said.

Firefighting forces from eight EU countries are either operating or due to arrive soon, Mr Artopios said.

Israel, Jordan and Turkey have also sent reinforcements, including aerial equipment.