In brief
A massive blizzard on the island of Crete has forced the evacuation of some 8,000 residents and tourists, while winds of up to 125 km h‑1 fanned flames across a 15 km front. The fire has caused the deaths of two Greek firefighters near Krya Vrysi and a third near Gytheio‑Peloponnese. The blaze is part of a continent‑wide series of high‑temperature–driven fires that have swept Europe, with France, Spain and Turkey also reporting deadly incidents and widespread evacuations.
Thousands of people have been evacuated on the Greek island of Crete as wildfires fanned by strong winds threaten tourist resorts and villages.
Greek authorities reported that about 8,000 people were evacuated overnight in the Rethymno region, where wind gusts reached 125 km h‑1 and the fire front exceeded 15 km.
The evacuation followed the deaths of two firefighters in Greece near Krya Vrysi and a third near the Peloponnese port town of Gytheio.
Rethymno deputy Regional Governor Maria Lioni described Wednesday as a "dark day" for the area, noting violent winds (Beaufort scale 11) that hindered containment efforts and kept firefighting aircraft grounded.
Temporary shelters have been set up for residents and tourists, with provisions in place for those shifted into neighbouring municipalities.
The blaze is part of a larger trend of extreme heat and fire across Europe, with similar wildfires reported in France’s Gironde region, Spain’s Zamora and Catalonia, and Turkey, where hundreds of homes have been evacuated.
Climate‑change forecasts warn that fire‑prone conditions are likely to spread further into central Europe this week, placing Greece, Turkey and other countries at heightened risk.
The Greek Fire Service chief, Theodoros Vagias, released a condolence note to the fallen firefighters Emmanouil Stratidakis (58) and Pantelis Diamantakis (25), who will be buried in the coming days.
