Forest fires in Greece claimed the lives of three rescue workers
For the second day in a row, Greece has been battling massive wildfires. Three firefighters died while fighting the blazes, and due to the rapid spread of the fires on Crete, about 8,000 people—including tourists—had to be evacuated.
For the second day in a row, Greece has been battling massive wildfires that have engulfed the island of Crete and part of the country’s mainland. The fires are spreading rapidly due to strong winds, and the situation remains very dire. Three rescue workers died while fighting the fires. According to local authorities, two firefighters died on Crete. They became trapped on a mountain road, lost their bearings due to thick smoke, and were unable to escape the danger zone.
Another rescuer died while on duty near the town of Githio in the south of the Peloponnese Peninsula. According to preliminary reports, the man lost consciousness while fighting the fire. The most critical situation currently remains in the southwestern part of the island of Crete. Due to the rapid spread of the flames, authorities have evacuated residents of several villages in the Rethymno region. The fire has also come dangerously close to the popular resort town of Agia Galini, forcing tourists and local residents to leave their homes and hotels.
According to Maria Lionis, deputy governor of Crete, a total of about 8,000 people have been evacuated from the danger zones. The flames have already destroyed large areas of farmland, including olive groves, and have also damaged residential buildings. Rescue workers continue their efforts, but strong winds are significantly hampering firefighting efforts.
In some places, wind speeds reach 102 kilometers per hour. Due to these weather conditions, planes and helicopters that were supposed to drop water on the fire hotspots are either operating under severe restrictions or are unable to take off at all.
Yorgos Tsapakos, the deputy regional governor of Crete for civil protection, reported that the situation has not yet improved. “Unfortunately, there has been no improvement, and the latest information indicates that the wind will pick up later today,” he said.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his condolences to the families of the fallen firefighters and emphasized that the country is facing large-scale wildfires with increasing frequency. “We are living in a new, harsh reality where wildfires are becoming increasingly intense,” the head of government noted.
Emergency services continue to battle the fires in several regions of the country at once. Authorities are urging residents and tourists to follow all recommendations from civil protection agencies and not to return to dangerous areas until officially permitted to do so, according to DW.
Greek authorities have temporarily suspended outdoor manual labor and certain delivery services in regions where extreme heat is expected. Violators of the new restrictions face fines.
