Holidaymakers given 'emergency alert' as heatwave and wildfires hit Greek tourist destinations

Brit holidaymakers have been issued an "emergency alert" as fires caused by intense hot weather have been reported across Greece.

Hot, dry conditions have fuelled nightmare blazes across the country over the last few weeks, with the national fire service preparing for another difficult season ahead and blazes already causing disaster across the country and its famed islands. Emergency services are currently battling through the earliest heatwave on record.

Authorities have called for the evacuation of eight areas around Athens, with multiple fires developing in the Greek capital's region, while huge blazes have seen islands Kos and Chios affected too, WalesOnline reported The region around Athens - Attica. - is a popular tourist area, with many Brits travelling for their holidays each year.

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Late on Sunday, Vassilis Kikilias, the Greek government's Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister issued an emergency warning as two "extremely dangerous" blazes broke out in smaller Attican towns. He said: "Today in Attica two extremely dangerous fires that broke out in residential areas and spread rapidly due to strong winds in Keratea and Stamata were tackled."

Keratea is around 50 miles to the south of Athens, with Stamata to the north-east.

Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, a spokesman for the Greek fire service, said during an emergency press briefing on the same day that it was the "hardest day" of the year so far for his team. He said: "Today is the hardest that the Fire Brigade has faced in this year’s firefighting season."

Popular destinations on islands Chios and Kos were also subject to warnings, with fires still raging on Monday, WalesOnline reported. Emergency services issued evacuation orders for the Metohi area in western Chios, informing locals and holidaymakers to make their way to a nearby beach for shelter.

Meanwhile on Kos, the Hellenic Fire Service said it had deployed 20 firefighters, a helicopter, and a number of volunteers to tackle a brush fire in the island's centre. The fires are expected to intensify as the season continues, Greece's Prime Minister said in a meeting with top officials. Speaking to 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 PM added that June has already proven "exceptionally difficult", saying: "We have had an exceptionally difficult June regarding weather conditions, with high levels of drought and unusually strong winds for this season."