Thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated from villages and resorts on the Greek island of Crete as wildfires, fanned by strong winds, continue to rage across the region. The escalating crisis has tragically claimed the lives of three firefighters across Greece, with two fatalities occurring on Crete.
Around 8,000 people were evacuated overnight in Rethymno, located in western Crete, where gusts of wind have reached speeds of 125km per hour. Rethymno's deputy regional governor, Maria Lioni, described Wednesday as a “dark day” for the region, noting that overnight gusts hit up to 11 on the Beaufort scale, categorized as “violent.”
The blaze in Rethymno, which ignited on Wednesday, is currently one of the largest active fires on the island, with its front extending over 15km (9.3 miles) and burning out of control. It is believed to have already destroyed numerous homes and significant agricultural land. Ms. Lioni stated that there is no clear picture of the destruction so far, emphasizing that containing the fire remains the main priority.
Firefighting efforts are severely hampered by the strong winds, which are not only fanning the flames but also preventing firefighting aircraft from flying on Thursday morning, according to local media reports. Some of those evacuated in Rethymno have been moved to temporary shelters in a neighboring municipality, with provisions also made for tourists. July is a peak tourist month for Crete, attracting millions of visitors annually.
The Greek Fire Service has deployed approximately 224 firefighters, 53 engines, 11 specialized units, and two aircraft to the region. The fatalities include two firefighters who died on Wednesday after becoming trapped near Krya Vrysi on Crete. They were identified as 58-year-old Emmanouil Stratidakis and 25-year-old Pantelis Diamantakis, both of whom are scheduled to be buried on Thursday. A third firefighter died near the Peloponnese port town of Gytheio. Theodoros Vagias, chief of the Greek Fire Service, issued a note of condolence for Mr. Stratidakis and Mr. Diamantakis.
Greece is one of several European nations currently battling devastating fires and droughts amid extreme high temperatures across the continent. Forecasters warn that fire-prone conditions are expected to spread towards central Europe this week, with Greece and Turkey anticipated to be among the most affected areas.
In **Spain**, approximately 600 people have been evacuated near the border with Portugal due to a fire in Zamora. While fires near the capital, Madrid, have ceased spreading, allowing thousands of residents to return home, a blaze in Ávila province has burned over 43,000 hectares (108,000 acres) in the last week, making it the largest recorded wildfire in Spanish history.**Portugal** has reported five injuries from a fire in the eastern town of Valpaços, according to local media.In **Turkey**, hundreds of homes have been evacuated, though authorities state that the majority of fires in the region have been brought under control.**France** has seen a wildfire in the Gironde region, which ravaged approximately 42,000 hectares (103,784 acres)—the largest since 1949—not spread for a third consecutive day, despite recent temperatures up to 41C (106F).
Cooler weather and some rain are anticipated on Thursday. However, several regions in the south-east of the country have been placed under orange heatwave alerts starting Thursday at 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT).The Copernicus Climate Change Service indicates that climate change is driving up global temperatures, with Europe warming twice as fast as the global average. This phenomenon is leading to increased summer heatwaves, greater pressure on Europe's water supply, and more intense wildfires.
