Nicos Papanicolau
BBC News
Watch: Beach Fans Looks like Wildfires Burning in Greece
Hundreds of people have been evacuated as major wildfires continue to burn out of control on Crete, Greek island.
The fire, instigated by the Galeforth winds, broke out Wednesday afternoon in a rugged woodland near the municipality of Ierapetra.
The flames are spreading rapidly, threatening critical infrastructure, including homes, tourist accommodations and fuel stations.
According to emergency services, the fire front has extended at least 6km, making containment more difficult. The thick smoke envelops a wider area, reducing vision to near zero.
EPA
Tourists evacuate hotels in Iera Petra wildfires on Crete, Greece
Authorities also ordered mass evacuations of hotels, rental rooms and homes in Ferma city as the flames approached the area. The operation is currently underway with the support of firefighters, police and local volunteers.
So far, about 1,500 people have evacuated from surrounding villages and tourist attractions and moved to Ierapetra. Approximately 200 evacuees are protected in the town’s indoor sports arena.
Smoke from the fire stretches to McCree Gyaros Beach, 10 km (6 miles) from Aquilia in Lasity, where firefighters were fighting the flames.
The main road near the settlement of Agia Fotia was closed by police. Police are urging residents and visitors to avoid all nonessential travel due to dangerous air quality, extreme heat and ashes falling.
Local reports have revealed that homes and rental properties have been destroyed and power outages at the Agia Fotia settlement. At least four elderly people were taken to the hospital with respiratory problems caused by inhaling smoke.
As a precaution, all hospitals in Crete are on alert from health authorities.
EPA
Fire response has been significantly strengthened. As of Wednesday night, 155 firefighters, eight professional foot teams and 38 fire engines were operating on the ground. Four helicopters ran the water droplets until dusk. Local governments also deploy water supplies and heavy equipment.
Additional force is in the middle. 17 firefighters and a 1-foot team from the 1st Emode (special forest fire unit) will travel by ferry from Piraeus along with five fire trucks, with 33 firefighters and four additional Emode teams scheduled to be broadcast from Elefusina.
According to the public broadcaster ERT, the firefighters ordered a tactical withdrawal from the front of the fire to protect personnel and prioritize creating fires around risky settlements. The crew is expected to stay on the ground all night.
Emergency warnings via 112 public warning systems were issued all day long, calling for evacuation from Achlia, Ferma, Agia Fotia, Galini and subsequent Kouthounari, instructing residents and tourists to move towards Ierapetra.
Some individuals blocked by road reportedly evacuated by boat from a local beach.
The fire, believed to have begun between the villages of Agia Fotia and Skinokapsala, continues to burn through dense, highly flammable forests, with steep terrain, dry conditions and strong winds being extremely difficult.
More than 50,000 people were evacuated in Türkiye earlier this week due to a wildfire in western Izmir.
In Europe, at least six heat-related deaths have been reported as continental reels under early summer heat waves. The most recent recorded deaths were in Spain and Italy. There were casualties in France as well.
