VIDEO: Two waterbomb pilots killed after plane crashes in Greece's island of Rhodes

At least two Greek waterbomber pilots were killed on Tuesday, after a firefighter plane that was working to put out a wildfire in the Greek Islands of Rhodes crashed on the Island of Evia, as wildfires raged, causing significant damage to homes, leading to a widespread evacuation effort.

ERT broadcasted footage of a plane dropping water onto a fire before crashing into a hillside and bursting into flames.

The Greek air force reported that a Canadair CL-215 plane crashed on the island of Evia, east of Athens, with two airmen on board.

According to reports, the airforce dispatched two helicopters to conduct a search and rescue operation. Tragically, the mission revealed that both Greek air force pilots involved in the crash had passed away, AFP reported.

"A three-day mourning period is declared in the Armed Forces for the loss of life, in the line of duty, of the Air Force officers and pilots of the firefighting aircraft CL-215, which was operating in Evia," the Greek defence ministry said in a statement.

Firefighters from multiple countries, including Turkey and Slovakia, have been working tirelessly to combat the wildfires that have been burning on Rhodes Island since Wednesday.

The flames have intensified due to hot and windy conditions. Additional emergency flights have been scheduled to transport vacationers back home safely.

PM Mitsotakis said Tuesday the next few days would be difficult, with conditions possibly improving after Thursday.

"All of us are standing guard," he said adding that "in the face of what the entire planet is facing, especially the Mediterranean which is a climate change hot-spot, there is no magical defence mechanism, if there was we would have implemented it."

Prosecutors in Greece started a probe into the causes of the Rhodes wildfires and the preparedness and response of authorities, ERT said.

It said about 10% of the island's land area had burned.

Rhodes is one the biggest islands of the country and is the top summer destination for millions of tourists.

About 20,000 people had to leave homes and hotels in Rhodes over the weekend as the inferno spread and reached coastal resorts on the verdant island's southeast, after charring land, killing animals, and damaging buildings.

After a blaze in the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, in 2018 killed 104 people, Greece has taken a more proactive approach towards evacuations.

But critics maintain that it has not improved its ability to put out fires that are common in summer, though more intense in this year's heatwave.

Greece has seen very high temperatures in recent weeks and they are set to rise through Wednesday to exceed 44 Celsius (111.2 Fahrenheit) in some areas.