Greek firefighters battle deadly wildfires on Crete for a second day as fires spread across Europe

Greek firefighters battled deadly wildfires on the island of Crete for a second day, as blazes continued to spread across Europe. The fires have already claimed the lives of three firefighters on Crete and the mainland, with two more sustaining minor injuries.

Two firefighters on Crete died after becoming trapped by flames near the village of Krya Vrysi while moving between fire fronts. A third firefighter perished in a separate blaze in the Peloponnese region. The high winds fanned the flames, pushing the Crete fire out of control and forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents and tourists from nearby villages by sea and land.

On Thursday, more than 200 firefighters, along with numerous fire engines and water-carrying aircraft, were engaged in combating two wildfires on Crete. The fires have devastated agricultural crops and olive groves, and damaged warehouses and some homes. Deputy regional governor for civil protection on Crete, Giorgos Tsapakos, expressed concern that winds were expected to increase later in the day, hindering firefighting efforts, as aircraft were grounded in the morning due to the strong winds.

Europe is facing a heightened wildfire risk, with Greece and Italy particularly vulnerable in the coming weeks, according to the EU's emergency response center. The continent has endured record-breaking heatwaves this year, intensifying the conditions that enable wildfires to spread rapidly. Spain and France have recently experienced large-scale evacuations due to devastating blazes that have scorched forests and killed wildlife.

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Unfortunately there is no improvement, and the latest information indicates that winds will increase later in the day.