Brit tourists issued emergency alert as fierce fire sweeps through Greek isle

British tourists in Greece have been slapped with an "emergency alert" as a ferocious wildfire, stoked by soaring temperatures, rages across one of the islands.

The country has been battling relentless infernos for weeks, exacerbated by scorching weather, with firefighters bracing for a challenging season. The nation is currently grappling with its earliest heatwave on record, which has already had devastating effects.

Officials have ordered the evacuation of eight localities near Athens as multiple fires ignite in the region of Attica, a hotspot for British holidaymakers, attracting millions each year with its blend of history and sunshine.

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In a late-night announcement on Sunday, Vassilis Kikilias, the Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, sounded the alarm over two "extremely dangerous" fires that erupted in the towns of Keratea and Stamata, rapidly spreading through residential areas propelled by strong winds.

Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson for the Greek fire service, described it as the "hardest day" of the year for his team during an emergency press conference. He stated: "Today is the hardest that the Fire Brigade has faced in this year's firefighting season."

The popular islands of Chios and Kos were also on high alert, with fires still blazing on Monday, according to WalesOnline. Emergency services issued evacuation orders for the Metohi area in western Chios, advising locals and tourists to seek refuge at a nearby beach.

A warning sent to British holidaymakers read: "If you are in Kardamena Kos move away to Antimachia," and urged tourists to heed instructions from local authorities. Another message from TUI added: "We are currently on standby and awaiting information from civil protection. Please liaise with your hotel reception teams who are in touch with local authorities to get advice on the next steps."

On Kos, the Hellenic Fire Service reported deploying 20 firefighters, a helicopter, and several volunteers to combat a brush fire in the island's centre. The fires are anticipated to worsen as the season progresses, warned Greece's Prime Minister in a meeting with top officials.

Addressing his cabinet, he said: "It is a summer which is expected to be particularly dangerous [for wildfires]... the most difficult times are still ahead of us."

The Greek Prime Minister has described June as "exceptionally difficult", stating: "We have had an exceptionally difficult June regarding weather conditions, with high levels of drought and unusually strong winds for this season."