A wildfire burning out of control near Rethymno on the Greek island of Crete has killed three firefighters and forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate, according to multiple news reports. The blaze, which began on Wednesday, has been driven by strong winds that have made containment efforts difficult.
Euronews.com reports that the fire is one of several burning across Europe this week, with Greece facing particularly severe conditions. The Guardian and The New York Times both confirm that two of the three firefighters died on Crete, while a third was killed in a separate wildfire on mainland Greece. The New York Times described the Crete fire as “nightmarish,” noting that it spread rapidly through dry vegetation and residential areas.
The BBC reports that thousands of people have been evacuated from coastal towns and villages in the Rethymno region. Authorities have deployed water-dropping aircraft and ground crews, but strong winds have hampered operations. The fires have destroyed homes and scorched large areas of forest and farmland, according to Euronews.com.
Officials have warned that the fire risk remains high across southern Europe due to a prolonged heatwave and dry conditions. Firefighting teams from other European countries have been dispatched to assist Greek crews. The situation in Rethymno remains critical, with no immediate containment expected.
