US EditionThousands evacuate as wildfire burns in Crete
- A large wildfire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in Ierapetra, on the Greek island of Crete, forcing evacuations and threatening homes.
- The fire started between Agia Fotia and Skinokapsala and spread rapidly due to gale-force winds reaching up to level eight on the Beaufort scale.
- Authorities evacuated about 1,500 people from multiple settlements, including Ferma and Agia Fotia, relocating many to Ierapetra and shelters such as an indoor sports arena.
- Over 155 firefighters supported by eight specialised ground units and 38 firefighting vehicles are working to control the wildfire, while air operations were paused overnight and additional crews are arriving from Athens.
- The wildfire highlights the increasing threat of climate change-induced heatwaves and wildfires in the Mediterranean, amid a Europe-wide heatwave causing at least six heat-related deaths.
229 Articles
229 Articles
Winds of more than 85 km/h and high temperatures complicate the extinction tasks in Smyrna; while 5000 tourists were forced to leave the island of Crete by forest fire out of control
New wildfire near Athens, Crete blaze 'retreating': firefighters
A wildfire on the island of Crete that forced the evacuation of 5,000 tourists and locals is "retreating," Greek firefighters told AFP on Friday, but a new blaze fanned by strong winds is spreading east of the capital, Athens.
Over the past 10 days, Turkey has been facing a series of fire departures in several parts of the country. On Monday, 50,000 people were evacuated, including to Izmir and Hatay, in the south-east. Every summer, Turkey is faced with fires, favored by drought, but this year, the situation is particularly alarming. In Izmir, two people have died. According to the authorities, some homes are under control, but new fires continue to burst. Several fi…
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