31 evacuated by sea from Crete wildfires amid severe weather

In a dramatic sea evacuation, 31 individuals were rescued from the southern coast of Rethymno, Crete, as raging wildfires, fueled by strong winds, threatened the area. The operation, which concluded early Wednesday evening, involved vessels from the Hellenic Coast Guard, Frontex, and private boats.

Those rescued were evacuated from Agios Pavlos and brought to Kokkinos Mylos. Medical assistance was provided where necessary. The evacuation took place under extremely challenging weather conditions, with winds reaching 10 on the Beaufort scale, causing significant wave action and severely limiting visibility due to dense smoke from the fires.

Coast Guard vessels remain on high alert, ready to provide assistance for further evacuations if needed. Authorities are monitoring potential fire outbreaks and the need for rescues in Ierapetra, also experiencing a fire, and in Plomari.

The ongoing wildfires underscore the severe impact of the current heatwave and strong winds across Greece, posing significant risks to both property and lives, and necessitating emergency response measures.