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 new wildfire in Greece prompted evacuations in coastal areas south of Athens on Friday, as firefighters in neighbouring Turkey remained locked in a battle to contain flames tearing through forested hillsides in the west of the country.

ATHENS (Reuters) -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.