Terrified tourists are loaded onto escape vessels as Rhodes wildfires rage behind them

• Footage shows young children and families trying to get on boats to escape fire 
• The Rhodes nightmare has become the largest fire evacuation in Greek history

Dramatic footage shows the terrifying moment hundreds of tourists who fled from burning villages in Rhodes were loaded onto boats in a bid for safety. 

The video shows young children and their families huddled in complete darkness by the water as wildfires spread behind them on the Greek island. 

Desperate cries and shouts can be heard in the video as crowds of tourists hope to be next to board the boats by the Red Cross. 

Dan Jones and his family of three young children had to enter the sea and climb into a fishing trawler to escape the blaze, according to The Sun. 

Dramatic footage shows the terrifying moment hundreds of tourists who fled from burning villages in Rhodes were loaded onto boats in a bid for safety

Young children and their families can be seen huddled in complete darkness by the water as wildfires spread behind them on the Greek island

The father, a PE teacher, described it as ‘the scariest moment in my entire life’. 

‘I don’t know how they’ll process this when the dust settles, but what brave boys,’ he added. 

A number of private boats and coastguard vessels took part in a rescue of more than 2,000 people from beaches yesterday. 

British Embassy officials in Athens called for all Brits to evacuate to escape the aggressive flames. 

The wildfires have been burning for almost a week in Rhodes after Greece became battered by an extended heatwave which has only worsened the ongoing blaze. 

Desperate cries and shouts can be heard in the video as crowds of tourists hope to be next to board the boats by the Red Cross

The Rhodes nightmare has become the largest fire evacuation in Greek history , according to authorities – with 19,000 fleeing from villages and hotels

Warnings from Greece’s fire service say the dire situation could become even worse today. 

Meanwhile holiday firms TUI and Jet2 have cancelled all flights to Rhodes as the popular holiday destination has become a danger zone. 

Jet2 said it will fly aircraft which are scheduled to go out without any passengers on board in order to bring people home, as Brits rush to the island’s airport to escape the devastating fires.

The package holiday provider said it will not be running any flights until at least Wednesday, while TUI has said it is also cancelling all booked holidays for the next several days.

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