Athens  - Emergency crews said they were preparing to evacuate more than 2,000 tourists from the Dodecannese island of Rhodes as a massive forest fire burned out of control for the fourth straight day on Friday.

Authorities declared a state of disaster on the island, where dozens of homes have been burned and at least 4,000 acres of forest destroyed.

Officials said the evacuation of tourists from hotels was being undertaken as a precautionary measure.

Italy, France and Cyprus said they were sending firefighting aircraft to help battle a massive forest fire raging out of control for the fourth day on the popular holiday island.

Officials said Italy was sending two firefighting aircraft and France two more to help battle the blaze. Cyprus said it was sending one helicopter which was expected to arrive on the island later in the day.

Hundreds of firefighters and soldiers, with the assistance of Greek aircraft, were fighting the flames which was approaching several mountain villages.

At least two mountain villages in the region of Laerma have been evacuated after the fire began destroying homes.

Another forest fire broke out Friday in the northern Peloponnese in the region of Ahaia, forcing officials to cut off the Athens-Patras highway and the local train service.

Greece had to battle hundreds of massive forest fires which broke out in several areas last summer, killing a total of 84 people, including several firefighters.

The most destructive and lethal of the infernos broke out at the end of August in the western and southern Peloponnese as well as the southern island of Evia. (dpa)