Evacuation messages were sent to people on the island, which lies off the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese, early on Sunday as the fire was raging unabated.

Greece has announced plans to "urgently" overhaul its water management, as temperatures continue to rise during a week-long heatwave.

After extreme heat hits many parts of southern Europe in another heatwave, conditions should improve for holidaymakers.

Greece and the wider Balkans sweltered under the third heatwave of the summer on Tuesday, with labourers barred from work, tourists kept away from the ruins and firefighters battling blazes scattered across the arid countryside.

Greece on Wednesday announced plans to "urgently" overhaul its water management as temperatures continued to rise during a week-long heatwave.Temperatures continued to rise Wednesday in a heatwave expected to last until Sunday.

According to Ekathimerini.com, mainland Greece will be the hardest hit region, with central Macedonia and Thessaly forecast to see highs of 42C and 43C. Athens, Thessaloniki and the eastern Aegean islands will see between 39C and 40C.

MASSIVE wildfires have erupted in Greece after a week-long heatwave peaked with temperatures surpassing 45 degrees. Thousands of people have reportedly been evacuated as fires swept villages near

The fires have burned 1,145 hectares (2,830 acres), the equivalent of about 1,600 football pitches, according to European monitoring service Copernicus.