Hundreds of tourists were evacuated by boat from the beach of the resort town of Siviri in Greece because of a forest fire, UNN reports, citing The Guardian.
Details
As reported by the local public broadcaster, a fleet of 15 boats evacuated more than 250 tourists from the beach.
AFP reported that many of those evacuated were still wearing swimsuits. Some were carrying children.
Footage shown on local television showed dozens of people standing in line on a pontoon, waiting to be evacuated, while smoke blanketed the sky above the resorts.
"We are on the beach and looking for a way to leave," Sofia, a homeowner from the region who gave only her first name, told AFP by phone.
Firefighters said strong winds, forecast to reach 100 kilometers per hour, were complicating efforts to fight the fire.
At this time of year, wildfires in Greece are not unusual, but the risk is increasing as climate change intensifies droughts and leads to prolonged extreme weather events.
Of the 40 wildfires recorded in Greece over the past 24 hours, nine had still not been brought under control by Thursday evening.