Over 200 firefighters are battling a devastating wildfire on Crete, Greece’s largest island and a popular tourist destination, prompting extensive evacuation orders. The inferno ignited near Ierapetra on Wednesday afternoon, coinciding with an unusual heatwave that has seen temperatures soar between 3 and 5 degrees Celsius above normal, alongside strong winds reaching 80 kilometres per hour.
The challenging weather has resulted in new flare-ups, complicating firefighting efforts, as stated by Chief Vasilios Vathrakoyannis of the Fire Department. More than 230 firefighters have been mobilised, utilising 46 vehicles and 10 helicopters to tackle the blaze, which is threatening not only residential areas but also hotels and other accommodations frequented by holidaymakers.
Authorities have instructed residents in four local settlements to evacuate towards Ierapetra, with approximately 1,500 people already having left their homes. The local municipality has repurposed an indoor training facility into a temporary shelter for those displaced by the fire.
In addition to firefighting personnel, police, medical teams, and coast guard units have been dispatched to the affected areas. Vathrakoyannis indicated that the region is entering the most challenging phase of the fire season, which traditionally peaks in July when hot weather and winds are prevalent.
The situation in Crete is part of a broader pattern, as wildfires have surged across Europe during this intense heatwave. Turkey has also faced significant challenges, with tens of thousands evacuated as wildfires raged through western provinces, leaving nearly 200 homes damaged. Similar incidents have occurred in France and Spain, where the toll includes fatalities.
While wildfires are a yearly occurrence in Europe, their frequency and severity have escalated, attributed to climate change factors that exacerbate heat and drought conditions, ultimately creating ideal circumstances for destructive fires.