Thousands evacuated in Crete as European wildfires continue to rage
Thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated from parts of Crete as a large wildfire, driven by violent winds, threatens villages and resorts. The crisis has also claimed the lives of three Greek firefighters, underlining the danger of fires spreading across southern Europe amid extreme heat and drought.
Around 8,000 people were moved overnight in Rethymno, where winds reached 125km/h and the uncontrolled fire front exceeds 15km; homes and farmland are believed to have been destroyed. Greece has deployed 224 firefighters, while major fires have also prompted evacuations in Spain, Portugal and Turkey; Spain’s Ávila fire has burned more than 43,000 hectares, and France’s Gironde fire about 42,000 hectares.
In short
- Crete wildfire forces 8,000 evacuations amid violent winds.
- Three Greek firefighters have died battling the fires.
- Severe wildfires continue across southern Europe.
Explained simply
Wildfires occur regularly in southern Europe during summer, but this year exceptional heat and drought have made fires burn more intensely and spread more rapidly. Strong winds are driving the blazes across populated areas, overwhelming efforts to contain them quickly.
Crete, an island in Greece with a large population and major tourism industry, is currently threatened by a major uncontrolled fire. Authorities have evacuated thousands of residents and tourists from towns and villages in the path of the flames.
This fire is one of several major blazes currently burning across southern Europe, including in Spain, Portugal, Turkey and France. The simultaneous occurrence of these large fires across multiple countries reflects the challenging conditions affecting the entire region.