Hundreds of British tourists evacuated as forest fires sweep through Greek island

In an emergency operation, up to 2,000 people, around 400 of them Britons, were yesterday moved to the island’s south coast as smoke billowed into tourist areas.

The evacuees included 324 First Choice customers, most of whom were staying at the Kiotari Bay Hotel in Asklipios.

Thick smoke from a forest fire rises over a beach of Lindos village on the island of Rhodes

Around 60 British guests at two smaller hotels nearby also had to be driven to safety.

A spokesman for tour operator Tui said: 'There are forest fires 3km from the resort of Kiotari.

'As a precautionary measure due to smoke, we evacuated 324 First Choice customers to Glistra Beach until the smoke disperses.

Tourists protect their faces from thick smoke

'Experts believe that should be a couple of hours but if that changes we would have to review the situation.

'It is being monitored closely by our resort management team, working in co-operation with the local authorities.

'We have a lot of resort staff with the customers at the moment. The hotel itself has not been directly affected by the fire.'

A tourist covers her head as she watches a forest fire at Kiotari village on the island of Rhodes

Another 12 customers whose apartments were further from the fires were given the option of moving to the beach area, she added.

Fires have been raging in dense pine forest on Rhodes since Tuesday. Strong winds are making conditions increasingly hazardous.

France, Italy and Cyprus are sending firefighting aircraft to help tackle the fire, which has burned thousands of acres of forest in the popular destination.

A Thomas Cook spokesman said two of its customers had been moved from an apartment in the Kiotari area.

The firm said in a statement: 'The safety of our holidaymakers is of the utmost importance and we continue to monitor the forest fires in Rhodes.

'As a precautionary measure, a small number of Thomas Cook guests have been moved to alternative accommodation.'

A firefighting aeroplane flies amid thick smoke from a forest fire at Laerma village

Tourists watch the forest fires from a safe distance

Kiotari is close to Lindos and Pefkos, which are popular destinations for British tourists, and the area is home to several resorts.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said it had received no information to suggest any Britons had been hurt as a result of the fire.

In an advice statement, it said: 'A large forest fire has broken out on the island of Rhodes.

'The island is currently in a state of emergency and fire services are battling to prevent the fire from spreading further.

'You should contact your local tour operator or hotel for further information.'

A spokesman for the Federation of Tour Operators said hotels had well-rehearsed contingency plans in place.

'Sadly, it's not uncommon at this time of year to get forest fires in parts of Greece and Spain so operators are pretty well geared-up to deal with it.

'The standard contingency plan is to move people to safe areas with other tourist accommodation, if it becomes necessary.

'Even though we are approaching peak time, there is still some capacity available.'