Over 1500 people were evacuated from hotels and homes overnight on the Greek holiday island of Crete as a major wildfire that sparked on Wednesday continues to spread rapidly due to gale-force winds.
The UK Government has updated their travel advice for Brits, urging them to ensure phone alerts for wildfires in their area are switched on.
'Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly,' they warn British travellers.
230 firefighters were battling the flames last night along with 10 water-dropping aircraft. Several people have been treated for respiratory issues due to the smoke, but no serious injuries have been reported thus far.
The risk of wildfires remains high for Crete and parts of Greece today as the country continues to be slammed with high temperatures.
Tourists Evacuated To Basketball Arena
The fire has burned through homes, farmland, and forest in the Ierapetra area on Crete's southern coast.
'The tourists who were moved out are all okay. They have been taken to an indoor basketball arena and hotels in other regions of the island,' Nektarios Papadakis, a civil protection official at the regional authority, told The Associated Press.
'It's a very difficult situation. The fire is very hard to contain. Right now, they cannot contain it,' he said.
Mobile phone alerts were sent out by the Fire Service and a civil protection agency for the evacuations and advised residents not to attempt to save their properties by returning to them.
Emergency services have said that strong winds have stretched the blaze across 6 km of land and that the risk of wildfires remains very high for Crete and other parts of southern Greece today.
However, flights to Crete remain unaffected due to both main airports being located in the north, away from the fires.
UK Government Updates Travel Advice For Brits
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) recently updated their travel advice for Brits travelling to Greece this summer.
'Be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires,' the FCDO advises.
They outline that there is a high risk of wildfires in Greece during the summer season between April and October.
'Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location,' they say.
In the event of a wildfire, British travellers are advised to follow emergency services guidance, call Greek emergency services on 112 if they are in immediate danger, follow 112 Greece on X (formerly Twitter) for official updates, and to contact their airline or travel operator to assist with travel back to the UK.
The FCDO also reminds Brits that causing a wildfire or forest fire, even unintentionally, is illegal in Greece.
To avoid starting a fire, Brits should:
- Not leave any litter, especially glass, which is a common cause for wildfires
- Ensure cigarettes are properly extinguished
- Not light barbecues
'If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112,' the FCDO says.
For more safety information regarding Greek wildfires, Brits are advised to visit Greece's Civil Protection website.
