WATCH: Evangelo Sipsas reports on the great escape from Rhodes

The wildfires on Rhodes have lasted a week, tearing through defenses, forcing thousands to feel the Greek island, fueled by vicious and relentless pounding heatwaves.

The latest evacuations from south Rhodes at the weekend with 19,000 people, most of them tourists, traveling in buses and boats out of the path of the fire. The flames had reached several coastal areas from nearby mountains. 

It has been a week now and more and more tourists and seasonal workers continue to be evacuated.

I met one British tourist Helen who had finally made it to the airport. She was supposed to leave last Saturday, but her summer holiday was extended because of the wildfires. She is only focused on one thing now. 

"We missed our flight because all the roads were closed because the flames crossed the road," she said. "We have been here longer, so we are very exhausted and we just want to get home."

For the first few hours when the troubles unfolded, everything was calm and danger did not seem imminent for Helen and her daughter. The scene changed very quickly.

‌"We were told we were safe because the smoke and flames were far away," she added. "We thought we could just see it and smell it. 

"There was orange and black smoke coming over, but we were told we were not near the fire and were safe. Then the smoke got thicker and we had to be evacuated. Its was very scary and hot from the flames and the smoke was very hot."

Thousands of tourists have been evacuated over the last seven days. As the fire reached their resorts and hotels many scrambled to find a seat on buses, while others hugged their suitcases as they fled on pick-up trucks.

The airport is calm again. The journeys home continue as they battle the long queues, helped by representatives from different countries trying to ease the pain. 

‌Germany, Austria, Italy, and the UK have all sent government officials to Rhodes to guide people. Some have lost documents, some are missing belongings, some have missed flights and some are just in need of emotional support.

A diplomat at the foreign affairs office of Greece, Katerina Tzima, said: "The first day was difficult because of the number of people that were affected. It was also something unprecedented and sudden. 

"However, with goodwill from all sides, we managed to tackle the situation and right now the situation is under control."

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