A wildfire in Crete has led to the evacuation of approximately 1,500 people as firefighters contend with challenging weather conditions and rugged terrain. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
Wildfire Triggers Mass Evacuations in Crete as Firefighters Face Vigorous Battle
Wildfire Triggers Mass Evacuations in Crete as Firefighters Face Vigorous Battle
Around 1,500 individuals, predominantly tourists, were evacuated from Crete amid escalating wildfire conditions and difficult firefighting efforts.
Hundreds of individuals, including a significant number of tourists, found themselves evacuated from their accommodations on the Greek island of Crete Thursday as firefighters fought valiantly to manage a rapidly spreading wildfire. The ongoing heat wave impacting Greece and much of southern Europe has intensified the wildfire threat, causing dangerously arid conditions.
More than 200 firefighters are engaged in combating the blaze from multiple angles, although their efforts have been hampered by strong winds and the island's rough mountainous landscape, according to Vassilis Vathrakoyiannis, spokesperson for Greece's fire service. As the wildfire expanded overnight into Thursday morning, local authorities worked swiftly to evacuate around 1,500 residents and travelers, with approximately 1,200 of them being tourists, as stated by Manolis Frangoulis, mayor of Ierapetra located on the island's southwest coast.
Thankfully, there have been no reported injuries or fatalities linked to the incident. Frangoulis described the chaos: “It was like hell on earth. There were thousands of patches of fire, springing up everywhere, each time the wind blew and threw blazing pine cones this way and that.”
The local response continues as officials collaborate to secure the safety of both residents and tourists while battling the relentless wildfire.
