Key facts
- A wildfire in southern Rethymno, Crete, is out of control and has caused extensive damage.
- Two firefighters died while battling the blaze in Rethymno.
- Villages and tourist areas in Rethymno were evacuated, displacing approximately 8,000 people.
- Gale-force winds are severely hindering firefighting efforts, particularly aerial operations.
- The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon and has spread rapidly over a 15-kilometer front.
- Damage includes homes, crops, and livestock facilities.
Dozens of fires erupted across Greece within a 24-hour period, with gale-force winds hampering firefighting efforts. The most severe blaze is in southern Rethymno, Crete, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon and is still out of control.
The fire in Rethymno, driven by strong northerly winds, rapidly spread towards populated and tourist areas, prompting successive evacuation orders. Approximately 8,000 residents and visitors were moved from their homes and accommodations. The blaze has caused significant damage to homes, crops, and livestock facilities.
Two firefighters, Pantelis Diamantakis, 25, and Emmanouil Stratidakis, 58, lost their lives while engaged in firefighting operations in Rethymno. The exact circumstances of their deaths are under investigation.
Over 220 firefighters, supported by specialized units, fire engines, water tankers, and heavy machinery, are on the ground in Rethymno. However, extremely strong winds, reaching up to 100 km/h, have prevented aerial assets like helicopters from conducting continuous water drops, severely limiting intervention capabilities.
Evacuees are being housed in temporary shelters, including a sports hall and hotels, with assistance from municipal authorities and the Ministry of Tourism. The Coast Guard also conducted sea evacuations from areas inaccessible by road.
Meanwhile, a separate fire in Plomari on the island of Lesbos is improving but not yet contained, with over 100 hectares of olive groves and pine forest burned. This fire also faced challenges due to strong winds and difficult terrain.