Gale force wind gusts complicated efforts on Friday to contain wildfires on Crete that have razed forests and olive groves and forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate.

A new wildfire has erupted in Greece prompting evacuations, while firefighters in Turkey pressed ahead with efforts to contain a deadly blaze west of the country

A Greek official says it is a "very difficult situation" as the wildfire sees clouds of ash fills the sky over southern Crete, adding: "Right now, they cannot stop it."