Tourists hit by Greek island fire

Greek authorities say at least 500 people have been evacuated from their hotel on the island of Evia due to concerns over a nearby forest fire.

Coastguard officials said the tourists were evacuated by boat from their hotel in northern Evia after the forest blaze cut off surrounding roads.

A spokesman said there were no reported injuries and that the tourists were moved as a preventative measure.

Reports say fires on the pine forested island are being fanned by high winds.

More than 60 firefighters and dozens of firefighting aircraft are tackling the blaze.

The mainly French tourists were rescued from their Club Med hotel and taken by a number of ferry boats and passenger ships to the nearby port of Edipsos.

In August, wildfires caused widespread devastation near the capital Athens, tearing through hundreds of homes.

At the time, the European Commission estimated that some 21,000 hectares of pines, olive groves, brush and farmland had been destroyed.