Crete wildfires kill two firefighters, force evacuations

Wildfires continue to rage across Greece, with the island of Crete, a favored destination for Romanian tourists, now grappling with a significant blaze. Two firefighters lost their lives after being trapped by flames in the Rethymno region. Authorities ordered the precautionary evacuation of six villages: Triopetra, Aghios Georgios, Aghios Pavlos, Sakhtouria, Melabes, and Krya Vryssi.

The strong winds and dry conditions have turned the firefighting efforts into a race against time. The fire in Crete is the most severe, with 156 firefighters and 27 fire engines on the ground, supported by eight water-dropping aircraft. Another fire is burning in the Moroni area of Iraklio, also in Crete, where 48 firefighters and three aircraft are working to contain the spread.

Fires have also broken out on other popular islands and mainland regions. On Paros, a wildfire spread rapidly overnight, prompting evacuations. On Lesbos, around 50 firefighters and six planes are tackling a blaze near the coastal town of Plomari, leading to the evacuation of its residents. In the Peloponnese region, 48 firefighters and three aircraft are operating near Ageranos.

While some fires near Aghios Dimitrios, Tyrnavos, and Trikala have been partially controlled, Greek authorities warn that the danger is far from over. A very high risk of wildfires has been forecast for July 30 in the Athens region, the island of Evia, eastern Peloponnese, the Cyclades archipelago, and the eastern Aegean islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, and Ikaria.