The blaze that broke out early Saturday near the village of Apolakkia, southern Rhodes, continues to burn. The firefighters are still battling the wildfire and are trying to put it under partial control.

As deputy chief of fire service Serentellos stated Sunday morning “we haven’t yet put the fire under partial control, but we hope to do it within the day.”

A huge force of firefighters, including 22 vehicles, assisted by groups of volunteers and firefighting aircrafts are battling the blaze.

According to the deputy mayor of Rhodes, Agapitos Pallas, the fire was caused by a spark of reaper, as the farmer responsible admitted.

The wildfire has already scorched thousands of acres, stables, farm machinery, warehouses and gardens.

Many settlements have been evacuated for precautionary reasons, including the village Apolakkia and Istrios.