Crete Wildfire Forces Mass Evacuations Amid Europe’s Intense Heatwave

A significant wildfire is currently raging on the Greek island of Crete, leading to the urgent evacuation of over 1,500 residents and tourists. The blaze, which began Wednesday evening near Ierapetra on the island’s southeastern coast, is spreading rapidly, fueled by strong gale-force winds and a severe summer heatwave impacting southern Europe.

More than 230 firefighters, some dispatched from Athens, are actively battling the inferno, which has already reached homes and hotels. Local authorities confirm that three settlements have been evacuated, with over 1,000 people displaced; some have sought medical help for respiratory problems. Vice-Prefect Yannis Androulakis reported that the fire currently has “three active fronts,” consuming scrubland and crops, intensified by winds reaching up to nine on the Beaufort scale. While water bomber planes were hindered overnight, drones and 10 helicopters are now assisting ground efforts.

This crisis unfolds as southern Europe grapples with extreme temperatures, leading to heat-related deaths in Spain, France, and Italy this week. The Greek fire service has issued a very high alert for wildfire risk across Crete and southern Greece, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by the relentless heatwave.

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