Hundreds of people have been evacuated after a wildfire broke out on the Greek island of Lesbos.
At least 50 firefighters rushed to the beach village of Vatera, near Turkey, on Saturday morning with volunteers called in to help.
Authorities ordered tourists and residents to flee as the flames came dangerously close, fanned by strong winds.
“We are fighting to save homes,” Mayor Taxiarchis Verros told local media.
According to police, 450 people from two hotels and 92 homes left the area.
Officers also scoured the villages looking for local residents who refused to move.
More than five hours after an emergency text message was sent to residents, the evacuation was still ‘ongoing’, said firefighters spokesman Yannis Artopoios.
He added that 17 fire engines, nine special fire-fighting planes and one helicopter were on the scene.
Photos show scorched houses and damage to a beach bar and umbrellas, with smoke still billowing.
A firefighter was also injured when the fire engulfed Vatera.
Temperatures in the Balkan country have steadily risen above 40°C, fearing that such terrifying incidents will become more frequent in the heat.
While no stranger to wildfires, officials said this summer has been particularly difficult for emergency services, with fires currently raging in northern, southern and eastern Greece.
To the north, firefighters and volunteers are fighting the rapidly spreading flames in Dadia National Park, a conservation area.
Last year, wildfires destroyed about 121,000 hectares of forest across Greece during the worst heat wave in 30 years.
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