Thousands evacuated in Crete as wildfires rage across Europe

Sun Sep 06 2026 04:22:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Mass evacuations on Crete after the worst fires in weeks force residents and tourists to leave villages amid deadly wind‑fueled blazes.

Wildfires on Crete have forced the evacuation of more than 8,000 people in the Rethymno area after winds reached 125 km/h. Two firefighters died in Greece and a third in Turkey, highlighting the danger. The blaze has destroyed homes and farmland and has threatened tourist resorts during the island’s peak season. Across Europe, growing heat and dryness are driving record‑breaking fires that threaten homes, wildlife and economies.

Thousands evacuated in Crete as wildfires rage across Europe

By Sofia Ferreira Santos

Thousands of people have been evacuated on the Greek island of Crete as wildfires, fueled by strong winds, threaten tourist resorts and villages.

More than 8,000 residents were evacuated overnight in the town of Rethymno after gusts reached 125 km/h. The evacuation followed the deaths of two firefighters near Krya Vrysi and a third near the Peloponnese port town of Gytheio.

Greece is among several European countries battling devastating fires and droughts during an unusually hot summer. Forecasts warn that the dry, fire‑prone conditions will spread towards central Europe this week, with Greece and Turkey among the most affected.

Smoke fills the sky as a fire burns through mixed agricultural and forest land in Plomari, Lesvos, Greece — Coal‑black smoke looms over Plomari while burning land, illustrating the scale of the blaze.

In Rethymno the fire broke out on Wednesday and has already destroyed several homes and sections of agricultural land. The front of the blaze stretches over 15 km, and local governors say containment remains the top priority. Owing to violent winds, firefighting aircraft could not operate on Thursday morning.

Tourist takes shelter at a sports hall in Moires as a wildfire burns on Crete — Temporary shelters were set up for residents and tourists after the wind‑driven fire spread across the island.

July is the busiest month for tourists on Crete, so the evacuation threat adds significant economic damage. About 224 firefighters were deployed, supported by 53 engines, 11 special teams and two aircraft.

The Greek Fire Service chief, Theodoros Vagias, publicly mourned two firefighters—58‑year‑old Emmanouil Stratidakis and 25‑year‑old Pantelis Diamantakis—who lost their lives. Both were buried the following day. Additionally, approximately 600 people were evacuated in Spain near the Portugal border, following a burn in Zamora. Five injured persons were later reported in Valpaços, Portugal.

While the fires around Madrid have been halted, widespread wildfires across Spain, France and Turkey underscore a continent battling its darkest summer on record. In France, a blaze in the Gironde region burned 42,000 ha and is the largest recorded fire in the country since 1949. France’s south‑east now tops orange heat‑wave alerts. Climate change is doubling Europe’s warming rate relative to the global average, intensifying heatwaves, stressing water supplies and fueling more destructive fires.