UK NEWS
BRITONS FLEE AS FIRES THREATEN HOLIDAY ISLAND
The fires on Skiathos
By David Pilditch
A FOREST fire sent thousands of British holidaymakers fleeing for their lives yesterday.
Families scrambled to escape as 60ft-high flames engulfed hotels and apartments on the Greek island resort of Skiathos.
Soldiers were drafted in after a state of emergency was declared.
Teams of firemen from neighbouring islands and the mainland commandeered boats to reach Skiathos to help tackle the inferno as it blazed out of control.
Planes and helicopters were scrambled to drop water bombs on acres of burning pine forest.
Tourists, mainly from Britain, Germany and Scandinavia, queued at ferry ports to get away from the island, which is just eight miles long and six miles wide. Last night there were no reported fatalities but damage to property was expected to run into millions of pounds.
Student Ian Watts, 23, and girlfriend Samantha Frith, 21, were staying in a hotel close to Koukounaries Beach – voted one of the world’s most picturesque holiday spots.
Mr Watts, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, said: “It was terrifying. We were staying in an apartment closest to the forest.
“There was a knock on the door and we were told to get out immediately. I went on to the balcony and I could see flames coming over a ridge just 100 yards away.
“They were at least as high as the trees and moving towards us very quickly.”
He added: “We just had time to grab our passports and some essentials and fled. We had to leave everything else behind and within minutes the whole place was engulfed.”
Hotel owner Maria Halkia said: “We have been destroyed. A most beautiful, forested beach area has been wiped out.”
It is believed the fire began on a rubbish tip and was fanned by high winds.
It broke out during Greece’s worst heatwave for 110 years. Dozens of people have died from the effects of heat in temperatures soaring to 115F (46C).
Last night the British Embassy in Athens was put on full alert to help deal with the crisis. Consular officials and other experts were preparing to fly to the island.
An embassy official said: “We are in constant contact with Greek police and government officials as well as British tour operators, and have been assured that wherever necessary British holidaymakers are being evacuated to safer ground.”
The Prime Minister of Greece, Costas Karamanlis, described the drama as a “national tragedy”.
And the Greek interior ministry said the resorts of Agia Paraskevi, Troulos and Kollios had been evacuated due to the threat to homes and hotels.
Because of the danger, residents were ordered to sleep on beaches.
On Wednesday three firemen were trapped by flames and killed on the island of Crete as they fought a forest blaze near the coastal town of Rethymnon.
