Thousands of people were evacuated from a tourist area on the Greek island of Crete as a massive wildfire continued to spread on Thursday, fuelled by strong winds and dry conditions. Authorities said around 8,000 residents and tourists were moved to safety from the resort village of Agia Galini after flames approached dangerously close to the settlement. The evacuation was ordered after the wildfire, which broke out on Wednesday, came within nearly one kilometre of the village before changing direction due to shifting winds. Maria Lioni, deputy governor of the Rethymno region, said the fire remained active and the full extent of the destruction was still unclear.

Lioni said the blaze was believed to have destroyed homes, agricultural facilities and livestock farms, although officials were still assessing the damage. Emergency teams continued efforts to control the fire as changing wind patterns made firefighting operations increasingly difficult. The wildfire has also resulted in the deaths of firefighters. Two firefighters were trapped on a mountain road near the village of Krya Vrysi and died after strong winds repeatedly changed the direction of the flames. Lioni described the incident as “a dark day” for the region.

A third firefighter also died while battling a separate wildfire near Gytheio in the Peloponnese peninsula. The deaths have highlighted the dangers faced by emergency personnel during Greece’s increasingly frequent and severe wildfire seasons. The fire department deployed more than 200 firefighters and 53 fire engines in the Rethymno area of southwestern Crete. However, winds reaching speeds of up to 102 kilometres per hour prevented aircraft from effectively collecting seawater for aerial firefighting operations. The coastguard also prepared evacuation support in Agia Galini, with four patrol boats positioned in the area, including one from the European Union border agency Frontex.

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A coastguard spokesperson said conditions remained extremely challenging due to powerful wind shifts affecting the region. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives while fighting the blazes. He expressed support for firefighters, volunteers and security personnel working to contain the fires, describing wildfires as an increasingly difficult challenge faced by the country every year. Greece experiences destructive wildfires almost every summer, with prolonged drought, extreme temperatures and strong winds creating conditions that allow fires to spread rapidly.

Climate experts have warned that rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are increasing the frequency and intensity of such disasters. The country’s civil protection ministry placed several regions under a near-maximum fire alert on Thursday, including Crete, the wider Athens area, eastern Peloponnese and several Aegean islands. Authorities urged residents and visitors to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions as firefighting operations continued. The situation on Crete remains under close monitoring, with emergency services working to contain the wildfire, protect communities and assess the damage once conditions improve.

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