Fotia

Authorities across the country remain on alert after 71 wildfires were reported nationwide in the space of just 12 hours on Saturday.

The biggest of the fires, on Crete, forced dozens to flee their homes.

A man was being treated for burns and breathing problems in a hospital in Crete as a wildfire raged out of control in the eastern part o the island on Saturday.

Residents in four villages in Crete have been recommended to evacuate as firefighters battle a large wildfire in a mountainous area northeast of Ierapetra.

Strong northerly winds are fanning the blaze, which broke out near Schinokapsala, in Lasithi regional unit, pushing the fire towards populated areas on the southern coast.