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Infernos, black skies and fleeing tourists: Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Homes have been lost in the deadly flames as thousands evacuate the Greek Islands amid 40C heatwave

Thursday 27 July 2023 07:52 BST

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Greece wildfires seen from space in shocking satellite images

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Greece continues to be ravaged by wildfires that have left two people dead and forced thousands of holidaymakers fleeing for safety.

Tourists on Corfu and Rhodes have spoken about their “hell on earth” experiences as their summer breaks were ruined by blazes in the extreme heat.

Becky Mulligan, a 29-year-old tourist told The Independent smoke started climbing up against their hotel window, which is when they decided to run.

“There were helicopters hovering above making the whole building shake,” she said. “We ended up legging it down a dirt track as the smoke came up around our legs. I thought I was going to die. It was like hell on earth.”

According to the Met Office Rhodes weather forecast, temperatures are set to hit 40C on Wednesday (26 July) as the intense heat continues. Below we look at some of the most powerful images from the fires so far.

Greece wildfires in pictures

Burnt buildings along the coastline in Kiotari on the island of Rhodes — Burnt buildings along the coastline in Kiotari on the island of Rhodes (AP)

A firefighter uses a bottle to drop water over a burnt plant after flames approach Vati village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece — A firefighter uses a bottle to drop water over a burnt plant after flames approach Vati village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece (AP)

Locals try to extinguish a wildfire burning in Gennadi village on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes on Tuesday — Locals try to extinguish a wildfire burning in Gennadi village on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes on Tuesday (AP)

German tourists take water from a swimming pool of a hotel as they try to extinguish a fire near the seaside resort of Lindos on Monday — German tourists take water from a swimming pool of a hotel as they try to extinguish a fire near the seaside resort of Lindos on Monday (AP)

Flames have wreaked havoc for wildlife in Rhodes — Flames have wreaked havoc for wildlife in Rhodes (AP)

Locals have said they have ‘lost everything’ in the fires — Locals have said they have ‘lost everything’ in the fires (AFP via Getty Images)

Flames ravage a forest in Vati village on the island of Rhodes — Flames ravage a forest in Vati village on the island of Rhodes (AP)

Locals pull tree branches as a wildfire burns in Gennadi village — Locals pull tree branches as a wildfire burns in Gennadi village (AP)

Smoke towers over grazing sheep as clouds become a regular sight — Smoke towers over grazing sheep as clouds become a regular sight (AFP via Getty Images)

Greek firefighters work to extinguish wildfires near Vati — Greek firefighters work to extinguish wildfires near Vati (AFP via Getty Images)

Fallow deer walks in the charred forest near Asklipeio on the Greek island of Rhodes — Fallow deer walks in the charred forest near Asklipeio on the Greek island of Rhodes (AFP via Getty Images)

A destroyed house after wildfire in Mandra near Athens — A destroyed house after wildfire in Mandra near Athens (Getty Images)

An aerial view shows wildfires burning a forest near Vati — An aerial view shows wildfires burning a forest near Vati (AFP via Getty Images)

Locals watch on as the fire approaches the village of Vati on Tuesday — Locals watch on as the fire approaches the village of Vati on Tuesday (AFP via Getty Images)

Military personnel look on as the fires continue to burn — Military personnel look on as the fires continue to burn (AP)

The evacuations

Evacuees wait to board on buses as they leave their hotel during a forest fire in Rhodes — Evacuees wait to board on buses as they leave their hotel during a forest fire in Rhodes (AP)

Travellers wait at the airport during evacuations — Travellers wait at the airport during evacuations (AFP via Getty Images)

Holidaymakers arrive after returning from Rhodes where evacuations were taking place on 24 July — Holidaymakers arrive after returning from Rhodes where evacuations were taking place on 24 July (ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Tourists wait in the airport’s departure hall during evacuations on the Greek island of Rhodes on 23 July — Tourists wait in the airport’s departure hall during evacuations on the Greek island of Rhodes on 23 July (AFP via Getty Images)

Thousands of tourists have had their holidays ruined by the fires — Thousands of tourists have had their holidays ruined by the fires (AFP via Getty Images)

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1/20 Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Burnt buildings along the coastline in Kiotari on the island of Rhodes

AP

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

A firefighter uses a bottle to drop water over a burnt plant after flames approach Vati village, on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes, southeastern Greece

AP

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Locals try to extinguish a wildfire burning in Gennadi village on the Aegean Sea island of Rhodes on Tuesday

AP

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

German tourists take water from a swimming pool of a hotel as they try to extinguish a fire near the seaside resort of Lindos on Monday

AP

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Flames have wreaked havoc for wildlife in Rhodes

AP

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Locals have said they have ‘lost everything’ in the fires

AFP via Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Flames ravage a forest in Vati village on the island of Rhodes

AP

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Locals pull tree branches as a wildfire burns in Gennadi village

AP

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Smoke towers over grazing sheep as clouds become a regular sight

AFP via Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Greek firefighters work to extinguish wildfires near Vati

AFP via Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Fallow deer walks in the charred forest near Asklipeio on the Greek island of Rhodes

AFP via Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

A destroyed house after wildfire in Mandra near Athens

Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

An aerial view shows wildfires burning a forest near Vati

AFP via Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Locals watch on as the fire approaches the village of Vati on Tuesday

AFP via Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Military personnel look on as the fires continue to burn

AP

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Evacuees wait to board on buses as they leave their hotel during a forest fire in Rhodes

AP

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Travellers wait at the airport during evacuations

AFP via Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Holidaymakers arrive after returning from Rhodes where evacuations were taking place on 24 July

ANP/AFP via Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Tourists wait in the airport’s departure hall during evacuations on the Greek island of Rhodes on 23 July

AFP via Getty Images

Greece wildfires in pictures as blazes ravage Corfu and Rhodes

Thousands of tourists have had their holidays ruined by the fires

AFP via Getty Images