Thousands of tourists and residents were evacuated from the Greek island of Crete on Thursday, as a raging wildfire — fueled by gale-force winds and searing summer heat — tore through the island’s southeastern region near the coastal resort town of Ierapetra.
Emergency services rushed to relocate approximately 5,000 people — including 3,000 tourists and 2,000 locals — after the fire erupted late Wednesday evening, according to Yorgos Tzarakis, head of the island’s hotel association. Evacuations continued overnight as flames approached several inhabited areas.
“This was a precautionary evacuation, but necessary given the speed of the fire,” said Tzarakis, adding that the situation remains fluid.
Greek officials confirmed that the blaze — now spanning three active fronts — is being driven by strong winds and dry vegetation, making firefighting efforts extremely challenging.
“The fire is spreading rapidly due to the wind,” said Yannis Androulakis, vice-prefect of the region, speaking to Mega TV. “Evacuations were conducted safely, with tourists moved to a municipal gymnasium for shelter.”
Crete’s mountainous terrain and overnight conditions prevented water bombers from reaching the fire zones in time. As dawn broke, over 270 firefighters, backed by 10 helicopters, drones, and reinforcements from Athens, were mobilized to battle the blaze.
“The fire continues to burn through scrubland and agricultural areas,” said Vassilios Vathrakoyannis, spokesman for the national fire service.
Deadly Spillover in Turkey
Across the Aegean, Turkey also battled wildfires, with one fatality reported in the western province of Izmir. An elderly man died, and six villages were evacuated as fires engulfed dry forest areas near the coast.
While Turkey has so far been spared the extreme heatwaves that swept across southern Europe, authorities there are grappling with long-term drought conditions — part of a growing climate crisis gripping the Mediterranean.
The unfolding crisis in both Greece and Turkey underscores the intensifying threat of climate-fueled wildfires, particularly in a region already marked by record-breaking blazes in recent summers.
In 2023, wildfires in Greece forced mass evacuations from islands like Rhodes and Evia, while heatwaves scorched large parts of the continent.
Meteorologists warn that above-average temperatures and dry winds will persist through the coming weeks, leaving officials across southern Europe on high alert.
