Hundreds escape Greek wildfire by sea as blazes continue across Europe

Hundreds of people in central Greece are being evacuated by sea after the coastal town they were in became hemmed in by one of the many wildfires raging across the country.

Around 500 people, mostly tourists, were left stranded after the fire broke out near Agios Vasileios in Viotia on Friday morning and rapidly spread on strong winds, local media report.

Another fire has broken out further along the coast, while firefighters continue to battle a large wildfire on the Greek island of Crete that ignited earlier this week.

Greece is one of several European nations suffering devastating wildfires after a succession of heatwaves created favourable conditions for them.

Firefighters in Portugal and Spain are still tackling blazes spanning thousands of hectares, with a new heatwave this week raising the risk of a massive fire near Madrid reigniting.

The area of central Greece where the two fires broke out this morning was considered the most at-risk due to high winds complicating firefighting efforts.

More than 200 people have been evacuated and another 100 are due to be taken by boat from Agios Vasileios, while emergency workers are attempting to safely remove those still in the town, according to Greek news agency Amna, citing fire officials.

People there had earlier been told by authorities to move further inland before the fire reached the outskirts of the town.

The fire further along the coast burnt through farmland before moving through the rural town of Xironomi.

Firefighters on Crete continue to tackle persistent hotspots in a wildfire that has torched thousands of hectares of land and prompted the temporary evacuation of 8,000 people.

Fires have also broken out on the islands of Paros, Andros and Kalymnos.

Most wildfires are sparked by humans, whether intentionally or accidentally, but climate change is making the conditions for them more common.