Key facts
- A wildfire in Rethymno, Crete, is out of control and has caused extensive damage.
- Two firefighters died while battling the blaze in Rethymno.
- Approximately 8,000 residents and visitors were evacuated from Rethymno.
- Gale-force winds up to 125 km/h are hindering firefighting efforts, preventing aerial operations.
- The fire broke out on Wednesday and has spread rapidly over a 15-kilometer front.
- Damage includes homes, crops, and agricultural land.
Thousands of people have been evacuated from several villages in Crete as wildfires, fanned by strong winds, continue to rage across Europe. The blaze in Rethymno, western Crete, broke out on Wednesday and is out of control, with gusts reaching 125 km/h severely hampering firefighting efforts, including aerial operations. Two firefighters died on Wednesday in Rethymno, and a third died near Gytheio. This is one of the largest fires on the island, with its front exceeding 15km and having already destroyed homes and agricultural land. Greece, Turkey, Spain, and Portugal are among European countries experiencing devastating fires and droughts due to extreme high temperatures, with forecasters warning fire-prone conditions will spread towards central Europe. Climate change is identified as a primary driver of these intensified weather events.