Three firefighters killed, 2,000 tourists evacuated after fires on Crete and the Peloponnese

Three firefighters were killed fighting large fires in Greece, and authorities carried out precautionary evacuations of settlements and tourist areas. The incidents and mass displacements occurred on Crete and in parts of the Peloponnese.

According to reports, two firefighters died in a large forest fire that broke out yesterday afternoon in the south of Crete, in the Rethymno area; initial information says they were trapped in a vehicle near the town of Sachtouria, where they were later found dead. The third firefighter collapsed and died from "pathological causes" in Ageranos, in the Peloponnese.

Evacuations, injuries and logistics

From the island of Crete alone, around 2,000 visitors and 29 local residents were evacuated from the beaches by sea. Two volunteers were slightly injured while fighting the fire.

In Heraklion, Crete, hundreds of visitors were evacuated due to a fire at a municipal gym in Mires (Phaistos); mattresses for sleeping and first aid kits were provided there. Fires were also reported in Sitia and Plomari, and scattered hotspots were reported on the island of Paros.

Firefighters battled long and fast-moving fronts: the fire line in Rethymno was estimated at about 20 kilometres, while strong winds continuously caused re-ignitions and hampered the work of rescue teams. Soon after the outbreak, that night 198 firefighters, ten groups of ground units and 43 vehicles were operating.

During the day, forces were to be reinforced with a further 18 firefighters, three groups of ground units and six vehicles arriving from Piraeus. Authorities issued a warning that for today the fire risk is very high — category 4 — across large parts of the country and called on people to follow evacuation instructions.

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