Firefighters race to contain wildfires in Greece as thousands evacuated
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Crete Wildfires Force Thousands to Flee as Greek Firefighters Battle Blazes Amid Climate Crisis
Greek firefighters scramble to contain fast-moving wildfires that have wreaked havoc across the southern island of Crete. The fires, fanned by strong winds and scorching temperatures, consumed large swathes of vegetation and damaged homes, businesses, and farms. In the town of Ödemiş, firefighters discovered the body of an 81-year-old man who succumbed to smoke inhalation after a nearby blaze reached his village. Both Greece and Turkey are among the most climate-vulnerable nations in Europe, and experts warn that the frequency and intensity of such disasters will only grow in the coming years. In Turkey, parliament passed a landmark law aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2053. The new legislation will establish a carbon market to help regulate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The most vulnerability is the drought and water stress in some regions, but there is also increasing frequency and frequency of floods and other extreme weather events in a country where fossil gas emissions are a significant source of emissions. In Greece, long dry spells, high temperatures, and strong winds are turning once-manageable brush fires into full-scale disasters.
Greek Firefighters Race to Contain Wildfires on Crete as Thousands Flee Resorts
In a dramatic display of nature’s fury and human resilience, Greek firefighters on Thursday scrambled to contain fast-moving wildfires that have wreaked havoc across the southern island of Crete, forcing the evacuation of more than 5,000 people. The fires, fanned by strong winds and scorching temperatures, consumed large swathes of vegetation and damaged homes, businesses, and farms in the Ierapetra region — a popular tourist destination along Crete’s southern coast.
The evacuations mark the latest chapter in a summer of escalating climate-driven disasters that have stretched firefighting capabilities and disrupted holiday seasons across the Mediterranean, with neighbouring Turkey also facing deadly blazes of its own.
Panic and Evacuation on Crete
The blaze near Ierapetra ignited a full-scale emergency response. Tourists, hotel workers, and local residents were rushed out of resorts and homes as flames advanced dangerously close. Some were forced to flee into the sea, where they were rescued by local fishermen and divers. Others sought refuge in an indoor basketball stadium that was converted into a temporary shelter.
“We’re grateful to be safe, but we lost everything we brought on holiday,” said Maria Dimitriou, a tourist from Thessaloniki, who had been staying in a beachfront hotel. “The fire moved so fast, there was barely time to think.”
Ierapetra’s mayor, Manolis Frangoulis, warned that while the fire had momentarily receded, the situation remained precarious. “If the wind hits the flames again, we’ll have new fires and the catastrophe will continue,” he said. Firefighting helicopters were grounded by nightfall, complicating the effort to douse remaining hotspots.
Tragically, several homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. Volunteers discovered dead livestock, many of which had been unable to escape, chained inside sheds. “We found goats and chickens burned alive. It’s heartbreaking,” said one local resident helping with the rescue effort.
Fires Spread Across Greece
As the situation unfolded in Crete, Greek authorities also ordered precautionary evacuations near the port city of Rafina, roughly 30 kilometres east of Athens. The blaze there prompted emergency alerts and mobilised dozens of firefighting units. Although smaller in scale, the fire underscored how widespread the threat has become during the peak of the Mediterranean summer.
Greece has faced increasingly intense wildfires in recent years, with experts pointing to climate change as a key driver. Long dry spells, high temperatures, and strong winds are turning once-manageable brush fires into full-scale disasters.
Tragedy in Turkey Amid Climate Alarm
Across the Aegean Sea, Turkey was battling its own wildfire crisis. In the town of Ödemiş, firefighters discovered the body of an 81-year-old man who succumbed to smoke inhalation after a nearby blaze reached his village. He marks the first confirmed fatality in a wave of wildfires that have scorched the country’s western and southern regions over the past week.
The fires in Turkey, which have led to the evacuation of thousands and the destruction of over 200 homes, were exacerbated by a combination of extreme heat, low humidity, and high winds — the same volatile conditions seen in Greece.
Firefighters, aided by water-dropping aircraft and helicopters, were also dispatched to battle a major blaze near the Aegean resort town of Çeşme. The fire forced the closure of roads and the evacuation of three neighbourhoods. Television footage showed walls of fire on both sides of a major highway, underlining the danger to residents and infrastructure.
Despite the severity of the fires, Turkish authorities reported that most were now under control. Still, the cumulative damage was significant, and the emotional toll on residents is expected to linger.
Climate Change: The Common Denominator
Both Greece and Turkey are among the most climate-vulnerable nations in Europe, and experts warn that the frequency and intensity of such disasters will only grow in the coming years.
“Summer wildfires are not new in this region, but they are getting worse,” said Gizem Koç, a lawyer at UK-based environmental advocacy group ClientEarth. “The most striking vulnerability is the drought and water stress in some regions, but also there is increasing frequency of floods and other extreme weather events.”
In response to the growing climate threat, Turkey’s parliament on Wednesday passed a landmark climate law aiming for net-zero carbon emissions by 2053. The new legislation will establish a carbon market board to help regulate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions — a significant step in a country where fossil fuels remain a primary energy source.
While Greece has already committed to similar targets under the European Green Deal, implementation remains uneven. Critics argue that both nations must rapidly enhance fire prevention strategies and invest in climate resilience to mitigate future disasters.
A Region Under Siege
This summer has once again revealed the vulnerabilities of the Mediterranean in the face of a rapidly warming climate. For the thousands displaced on Crete and the villages scorched in Turkey, the path to recovery will be long and painful.
But amid the destruction, stories of community, bravery, and resilience shine through — from fishermen who rescued tourists from the sea to exhausted firefighters who pressed on despite brutal conditions.
What remains clear is that without serious and immediate climate action, these devastating summers may soon become the norm, not the exception.
Conclusion
The wildfires ravaging Crete and parts of Turkey are stark reminders of the growing dangers posed by climate change in the Mediterranean region. As thousands flee their homes and holidays are cut short, the reality of increasingly extreme weather becomes impossible to ignore. While emergency services and local communities have shown remarkable courage and resilience, reactive measures are no longer enough. The path forward must include serious, coordinated climate action, better land management, and stronger infrastructure to protect lives and livelihoods. Without these steps, such devastating scenes risk becoming the new normal — a sobering prospect for a region already on the front lines of climate vulnerability.
Firefighters race to contain wildfires in Greece as thousands evacuated
Firefighters battle blazes near Athens and on the island of Crete. More than 5,000 tourists, hotel workers and residents evacuated from Ierapetra area. In western Turkey, a forestry worker was killed while trying to contain the fire. Hundreds of firefighters deployed to battle a wildfire near the Aegean coastal town of Cesme, west of Odemis, authorities say.”Thankfully no one was hurt but it’s a difficult situation,” Crete’s mayor says of the situation on his island. “As a Mediterranean country, Turkey is highly vulnerable to climate change,” lawyer says.
toggle caption STR/AP/INTIME NEWS
ATHENS, Greece — Firefighters battled blazes Thursday near Athens and on the island of Crete, where thousands were forced to flee holiday resorts, while blazes in neighboring Turkey claimed at least two lives.
More than 5,000 tourists, hotel workers and residents were evacuated from the Ierapetra area along Crete’s southern coast, authorities and hotel association officials said. A small number of people fled into the sea and were rescued by local fishermen and divers.
Ierapetra Mayor Manolis Frangoulis said firefighters working to prevent flare-ups and take advantage of a lull in high winds. “Thankfully no one was hurt but it’s a difficult situation,” he said.
Displaced tourists were relocated to other hotels or spent the night in an indoor basketball stadium. Several homes and businesses were damaged. Volunteers found dead farm animals, some burned alive while chained inside sheds. Separately, a wildfire near the port of Rafina, about 30 kilometers (20 miles) east of Athens disrupted local ferry services to the islands. Police went door-to-door to assist elderly residents while carrying out an evacuation order. In western Turkey, a local forestry worker was killed while trying to contain the fire near the town of Odemis, and an 81-year-old resident died from smoke inhalation, authorities said. It marked the first fatalities in a series of wildfires that have forced thousands to flee.
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Meanwhile, hundreds of firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, were deployed to battle a wildfire near the Aegean coastal town of Cesme, a popular vacation destination about 190 kilometers (120 miles) west of Odemis.
That fire, which began Wednesday, forced the evacuation of three neighborhoods and led to road closures. Television footage showed flames racing through dry vegetation on both sides of a highway.
Over the past week, Turkey has battled hundreds of wildfires fueled by strong winds, extreme heat and low humidity. Now mostly under control, the blazes have damaged or destroyed about 200 homes.
Summer wildfires are common in both Greece and Turkey, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying conditions.
Late Wednesday, Turkey’s parliament adopted a landmark climate law targeting net-zero emissions by 2053. The legislation includes measures to establish a carbon market board to oversee efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The law comes at a time when Turkey is increasingly grappling with issues related to climate change, from searing heatwaves to prolonged droughts, experts say.
“As a Mediterranean country, Turkey is highly vulnerable to climate change,” said Gizem Koc, a lawyer with the U.K.-based environmental advocacy group ClientEarth. “The most striking vulnerability is the drought and water stress in some regions, but also there is increasing frequency of floods and other extreme weather events.”
Wildfire breaks out near Hania, Crete; firefighting efforts underway
A wildfire erupted early on Friday in the Agriles area near Hania, on the southern island of Crete. The fire is reportedly spreading through a region of mixed farmland and forest.
The fire is reportedly spreading through a region of mixed farmland and forest. Firefighters quickly mobilized, deploying 36 personnel, including a specialized ground unit from the 19th EMODE forest commandos. Thirteen fire trucks and two firefighting helicopters were also sent to assist with aerial firefighting efforts.
A message sent via the 112 emergency alert system advised people in the area to remain on standby.
Wildfire prompts evacuations in eastern Attica
A wildfire breaks out in scrubland near Agios Dimitrios in Koropi, eastern Attica. 75 firefighters, including five ground teams from the elite 1st EMODE unit, are deployed. 25 fire engines, volunteers, four water-dropping helicopters, and two fixed-wing aircraft are also involved
The blaze prompted the deployment of 75 firefighters, including five ground teams from the elite 1st EMODE unit, supported by 25 fire engines, volunteers, four water-dropping helicopters, and two fixed-wing aircraft. Municipal water trucks were also dispatched to assist in firefighting efforts.
At around 2 p.m. local time, Greece’s 112 emergency alert system issued a warning advising residents in the settlements of Agios Dimitrios, Galazia Akti and Althea to evacuate in the direction of Lagonissi.
“If you are in the areas of Agios Dimitrios, Galazia Akti or Althea, evacuate toward Lagonissi,” the message read.
Temperatures soar to 38C as firefighters battle massive Crete blaze
Around 130 firefighters, 48 vehicles, and six helicopters are deployed. The fire broke out in a village about 16 kilometres (10 miles) east of Ierapetra. It has consumed swathes of agricultural land in the southeastern corner of the island. Some 1,000 residents evacuated on Wednesday found temporary shelter at an indoor stadium and in nearby hotels and about 5,000 holidaymakers left the area. Temperatures in Greece were forecast to reach up to 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) on Friday.
Around 130 firefighters, 48 vehicles, and six helicopters are deployed, contending with gale-force winds and dry conditions.
An anonymous fire brigade official warned that gusts could fan embers from smouldering trees, threatening to reignite contained areas.
The Crete fire comes as Europe endures an early summer heatwave, which has been linked by officials to at least eight deaths across the continent.
The fire, which broke out in a village about 16 kilometres (10 miles) east of Ierapetra on Wednesday, has consumed swathes of agricultural land in the southeastern corner of the island.
It has left dead animals and scorched farmhouses in its wake.
A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire on Crete (AP)
Some 1,000 residents evacuated on Wednesday found temporary shelter at an indoor stadium and in nearby hotels and about 5,000 holidaymakers left the area.
Many of the evacuees were expected to make their way back home later on Friday as the situation improved, George Tsapakos, a deputy civil protection governor for Crete, said.
Tourism is a key earner in Crete, the largest island in Greece, and local hoteliers were concerned about the impact on future bookings as the fire hit at the start of the peak summer holiday season.
Separately, some 148 firefighters battled a fire that broke out in the Athens suburb of Pikermi on Thursday, threatening many homes, causing power cuts and prompting authorities to move more than 300 people to safety. The fire was contained but not extinguished, the fire brigade official said.
Temperatures in Greece were forecast to reach up to 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit) on Friday, the Greek weather service said.
In Italy, the health ministry put 20 of the 27 cities it monitors for heatwaves on red alert on Friday. RAI public broadcaster said temperatures would go as high as 38 C in Florence and 37 C in Rome, Bologna and Perugia.
With the heat comes a higher risk of wildfires.
Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed “a wildfire hotspot” by scientists – with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate.