'Imagine 2,000 trees burning at once': The Manc filmmaker fighting Rhodes' devastating blazes

In the devastating blazes of Rhodes' worst wildfires for decades, Alex Ochman is a long way from his Manchester home.

Most tourists have fled or been evacuated, scrambling to leave an island usually famed for its breathtaking beauty and captivating history. But locals have been forced to watch on as their home burned, leaving behind nothing but scorched destruction and lingering questions over the future of the island's tourist industry.

Unlike most holidaymakers, filmmaker Alex has stayed in Rhodes throughout the 'hellish' destruction of the last fortnight. Camped out near Eleousa, where his girlfriend Kristina's family run a glamping-style business, the pair have joined locals in assisting the relief efforts that will be so essential in Rhodes' recovery.

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"Eleousa is a village that's pretty much been right at the forefront of where a lot of these roads fires have been," Alex, who grew up in Trafford and now lives in Didsbury, told the Manchester Evening News. "It's hard to imagine really, just hellish.

"Imagine thouands of trees burning at the same time. It looks like a warzone."

Residents here have watched as the scorching flames burned down villages, killed wildlife, and destroyed forests. The destruction has left Rhodes' residents fearing for their livelihoods - many of which depend on tourism, land, and livestock.

At Vinsan Wellness Centre, where Kristina's parents run a glamping and wellness business, they are usually busy at this time of year. But they have received an influx of cancellations that have now left them without a single booking for two weeks.

"It has been really sad because it's not only completely