Firefighting plane crashes in Greece, killing both pilots, as island blazes force new evacuations

A wildfire on the Greek Island of Rhodes have sparked the biggest fire evacuation operation ever in the country. Firefighters in Greece are struggling to contain 82 wildfires burning across the country, 64 of which started yesterday, the hottest day of the summer so far. Thousands of people have been relocated as flames threatened homes and hotels. The Greek government has said that nearly 19,000 people had been evacuated on Rhodes since Saturday. As huge fire blazes on the island of Rhodes, which has forced 19,000 to flee, wildfires have also broken out on the islands of Evia and Corfu. Despite receiving reinforcements, including water bomber planes, firefighters have been struggling to control the blazes on Rhodes. The fire is being fanned by strong winds as the region suffers through a brutal heat wave. More than 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines are operating on the ground, assisted by three planes and five helicopters. This is the biggest fire evacuation operation in the Greek history. The wildfire had initially been confined to the island's mountainous central region, but winds, very #Rhodesislandfire #Greecewildires #Rhodesevacuation ~PR.153~ED.155~HT.96~