RHODES TO HELL

HORROR AS INFERNO RAGES THROUGH HOLIDAY ISLAND | Brits rush into sea to escape fires as others walk miles in heat & smoke

- LUCY THORNTON and DAN WARBURTON

FRANTIC British tourists waded into the sea to flee wildfires gripping Rhodes as hotels burned down and firefighters desperately tried to stop the flames spreading.

Others, many with children and dressed only in beachwear, had to walk miles in scorching heat after being evacuated from popular resorts.

Families yesterday told how they had lost everything as the blazes ripped through the Greek island in scenes described as apocalyptic.

About 19,000 people have so far been evacuated as authorities launched the biggest rescue mission in Greece's history.

And with temperatures of 45C forecast, tourists were warned the situation will get worse as stretched firefighters struggle to cope.

Tourists arrived over the weekend to find hotels destroyed or empty.

Jet2 cancelled all flights to Rhodes yesterday but along with easyJet is sending empty planes to rescue Brits.

Last night parts of the Greek island of Corfu were also evacuated as wildfires edged nearer resorts.

Dad-of-four Daniel Jones told how he waded neck-deep into the sea as  he fled the flames on Rhodes and tried to get his young family on to a trawler.

The 37-year-old was with wife Hannah, 35, and kids, Ethel, two, Oliver, five, Albert, seven and Rupert, nine, still wearing pyjamas after being evacuated from their hotel on Saturday night.

ESCAPE

The PE teacher, from Exeter, Devon, said: "It was the scariest moment of my life." Joanna Hughes told how her daughter Emilia, five, feared she would die as the flames swept closer to their hotel.

The 35-year-old, of Murton, Co Durham, walked for four miles in thick black smoke to escape the fire with the youngster and husband Jon, 38.