Urgent warning to tourists as wildfires rage across the Mediterranean

IRISH ON HIGH ALERT

Tourists in Cyprus have been advised to remain on high alert as wildfires continue to ravage the Mediterranean. Pic: ETIENNE TORBEY/AFP via Getty Images

OVER 1,700 FLEE HOMES

More than 1,700 people have fled their homes in Turkey, with civilians running for their lives as infernos raged across major highways and ripped through neighbourhoods. A firefighter was also killed battling the blazes, which have ravaged cities across the country, with Bursa, Karabuk, Usak and Kahramanmaras the worst hit. Pic: Getty Images

TURKEY'S 'TRULY GREAT DISASTER'

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was ‘faced with a truly great disaster’, as 25,000 personnel fought fires across the country. Pic: File

GREECE BATTLES MAJOR FIRES

Neighbouring Greece is battling five major wildfires sparked by 44C heat, with the islands of Kythira and Evia among the most affected. Dramatic pictures showed a Greek firefighter screaming from the roof of a burning house in Krioneri, near Athens, as emergency teams responded to the blaze from the air and on the ground. Pic: Getty Images

WORST WILDFIRES IN 50 YEARS

Meanwhile, Cyprus has been hit by the worst wildfires in half a century, which have burnt two people alive and destroyed 70 houses. The Department of Foreign Affairs has since said it stands ready to provide consular assistance.Pic: ETIENNE TORBEY/AFP via Getty Images

ADVICE FOR FAMILIES ABROAD

It advised citizens travelling abroad to consult the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Travel Advice page to assist with making informed decisions when planning a trip. Families holidaying in the area have also been told to register their phones to receive emergency alerts and, if they see a fire, to dial 112. Pic: KarlM Photography/Shutterstock

SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY

Officials at the Acropolis in Athens announced it is shut between midday and 5 pm because of high temperatures ‘for the safety of employees and visitors’. Pic: ETIENNE TORBEY/AFP via Getty Images

FLAMES BRANDED 'TITANIC' STRUGGLE

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote on social media that anyone who lost possessions should know that the state will be by their side. He said the struggle to block flames had been ‘titanic’. Pic: Christian Marquardt/Getty Images

'ALL NIGHT BATTLE'

Fire brigade spokesman Vasilios Vathrakoyannis said teams waged an ‘all-night battle’ on Saturday and warned there is an ‘extremely dangerous’ risk of new fires. Pic: ETIENNE TORBEY/AFP via Getty Images

GREECE REQUEST EU ASSISTANCE

Some 67 firefighters were attending a fire on Kythira yesterday, where about 20% of the island has been affected by fires and evacuation alerts. Mr Vathrakoyannis said 100 of his men were attending fires in Messinia as high winds continued to fan the flames. Greece has requested assistance from the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for six firefighting aircraft. Pic: ETIENNE TORBEY/AFP via Getty Images

TOURISTS REDUCED TO TEARS

Last week, Englishwoman Lucy Armstrong, 37, was seen in tears as she returned to the smouldering remains of her family’s Cyprus villa. She had been forced to flee with her husband, Ben, and son, Ethan, three. Pic: Getty Images