THE fire risk alerts have been raised to “extreme” and “very high” for parts of Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca.
The high temperatures of recent days have put the popular Spanish islands at risk, while Greece and Italy continued to battle vicious wildfires.
APWildfires have been raging on Rhodes for eight days now[/caption]
Majorca is on ‘extreme’ alert for fires, while Ibiza and Menorca are on ‘high’ alert
AEMET_Baleares @AEMET_BalearesAEMET’s fire risk warning map for the Balearic islands showing Ibiza on the left, Majorca in the middle and Menorca on the right[/caption]
According to Spain’s meteorological agency AEMET, the “extreme” red alert covers the southern tip of Majorca near to the main resorts of Magalluf, Palmanova and Santa Ponsa.
It also covers the island’s eastern coast, while Ibiza and Minorca are also on “high alert”.
The scorching hot temperatures throughout the last days have turned Majorca into a “tinder box”, firefighters told Majorca Daily Bulletin.
However, the island is reportedly well-prepared for wildfires with the fire brigade, planes and helicopters ready and waiting in the wings.
It comes as Brit tourists were warned of an “extreme fire risk” in Crete as Greek authorities issued a red alert for the areas for the holiday hotspot areas of Rethymnon, Heraklion, and Lasithi.
The Balearic islands and Crete could be facing the same fate as Rhodes and Corfu, which have seen extraordinary blazes sweep across the islands – causing thousands to flee.
And in the popular Italian island of Sicily, Palermo airport was forced to close today due to fires burning dangerously close to its runways.
The airport in the Sicilian capital was forced to shut until 11am local time, its operator said on Twitter, as firefighters worked to put out a major blaze.
In Rhodes, more than 16,000 people were evacuated by land and 3,000 by sea from 12 villages and several hotels in the largest evacuation effort Greece has ever seen.
Terrified holidaymakers have been forced to flee burning hotels, wade through water and sleep on gym floors – with repatriation flights finally arriving on Monday to rush Brits out of the country.
Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said up to 10,000 British tourists were stranded on the island yesterday, many of whom are facing a “living nightmare”.
The flames have burned for a week on the island after the country was hit by high temperatures and strong winds that make it challenging to contain the blaze.
EPAFirefighters struggle to contain a blaze near to Palermo, Italy[/caption]
