Thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and tourist resorts in Crete as a wildfire tears through forests on the Greek holiday island.
The Greek fire department said that more than 230 firefighters are continuing to battle the blaze, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the forested hills near Lerapetra on the island’s southern coast.
At least 5,000 people were evacuated from Ierapetra, southeastern Crete, by Thursday, as 50mph winds spread the blaze across the region.
Several people were treated for breathing difficulties, officials said, but there were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
The government issued mobile phone alerts for the evacuations and appealed to residents not to return to try to save their property.
The risk of wildfires remains very high across Crete and parts of southern Greece on Thursday, according to a daily bulletin issued by the fire service.
Wildfires are frequent in the country during its hot, dry summers, and the fire department has already tackled dozens across Greece so far this year.
Key Points
- Emergency alert sent to tourists as thousands flee
- At least 5,000 evacuated from southeastern Crete
- In pictures: Firefighters battle huge flames
- Thousands evacuated as wildfire rips through Crete
- Fire is 'very hard to contain', say authorities
Pictured: Firefighting helicopter tackles wildfire
14:55 , Alexander Butler
Man, 81, found dead after Turkey wildfire
14:12 , Alexander ButlerFirefighters on Thursday discovered the body of an elderly man after dousing a wildfire near a village in western Turkey, while crews elsewhere continued to battle another blaze that closed a highway and forced some residents to be evacuated from their homes.
The 81-year-old-man died from smoke inhalation in a village near the town of Odemis, Suleyman Elban, the governor for Izmir province, said.
His death marks the first fatality in a series of wildfires across the country that have forced thousands to flee.
A total of 37 other villagers were safely evacuated by security forces and emergency teams, Elban said.
Where are the wildfires?
14:00 , Alexander ButlerThe fires broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the forested hills near Ierapetra, where dense, flammable vegetation was set alight and spread quickly due to gusty winds.
Just before 3pm on Wednesday, Greece’s emergency services warned of an active forest fire in Crete. It told those in the areas of Agia Fotia, Achlia, Galini and Ferma to move away and evacuate towards Ierapetra, following the instructions of the authorities.
Just after 6pm, it also advised the same of those in Koutsounari.
Authorities have shut off roads near the fire zone, telling residents and tourists to avoid non-essential travel due to the hazardous air quality, falling ash and harsh heat.
The strong winds have sent the flames southward stretching more than 6km, authorities have said, while thick smoke has also fallen over the region, reaching as far as some beaches 10km from the fire area.
Watch: Wildfire blazes across Greek island of Crete
13:30 , Alexander ButlerPeople evacuate Crete by boat
12:58 , Alexander ButlerTwo people were evacuated by boat overnight, while six private boats were on standby in case further evacuations by sea became necessary, the coast guard said.
Nektarios Papadakis, a civil protection official at the regional authority, told The Associated Press overnight that tourists who had been evacuated from the area had been taken to an indoor basketball arena and hotels in other parts of the island.
Several residents were treated for breathing difficulties, officials said, but there were no reports of serious injuries.
Tourists evacuated as Crete wildfire rages
12:40 , Alexander ButlerNektarios Papadakis, a regional civil protection official, told The Times: “It is a very difficult situation. The fire is very hard to contain. Right now, they cannot contain it.”
“The tourists who were moved out are all OK. They have been taken to an indoor basketball arena and hotels in other regions of the island,” he added.”
Avgi Makridoukaki, the owner of a guesthouse in Agia Fotia, said that she helped a French couple move to a safer part of the island.
Crete wildfires mapped: Mass evacuations as fires burn on south coast of holiday island
12:30 , Alexander Butler
Crete wildfires mapped: Mass evacuations as fires burn on south coast
At least 5,000 evacuated from southeastern Crete
12:24 , Alexander ButlerFirefighters were struggling Thursday to bring a major wildfire on Greece's southern island of Crete under control, hampered by gale force winds whipping up the flames.
Thousands of people were evacuated from hotels and homes overnight after the fire started Wednesday afternoon in the Ierapetra area on the island's southern coast, officials said.
The head of the hoteliers' association of Ierapetra and southeastern Crete, Giorgos Tzarakis, told local media about 5,000 tourists had been evacuated from the area, and that several homes and businesses had been damaged.
By Thursday morning, 230 firefighters backed by 10 water-dropping helicopters were battling the flames advancing through forest and farmland.
Gale force winds in the area, with gusts reaching about 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour, "are constantly creating ... new outbreaks, making firefighting work very difficult," said fire department spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis.
Flights from UK to Crete continue – though with delays
12:20 , Alexander ButlerThe first wave of flights from the UK on Thursday are en route to Crete, with airlines operating as normal.
All the initial departures so far are showing as delayed by up to an hour on the Flightradar24 tracking site.
The delays are unrelated to the wildfires. Hold-ups are due to a scarcity of “slots” for flights triggered by three elements:
- A strike by French air-traffic controllers, which is affecting overflights; the direct route from UK airports to Crete passes over eastern France.
- Underlying staff shortages at air-traffic control centres along the route, especially at Karlsruhe in western Germany.
- Summer storm activity in the vicinity of the Alps.
Stay safe: advice from Greek ministry for Civil Protection
12:10 , Simon CalderThe Greek ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection provides online advice on contending with forest fires. If fire has reached your location, the authorities say: “Do not abandon the building unless your escape is completely secured. Do not take shelter in a car. The possibility of survival in a building constructed by non-flammable materials is greater than that inside a vehicle close to smoke and fire.
“If you stay indoors, close firmly all the doors and windows. Block up all the cracks with wet clothes, in order to prevent smoke penetration. Remove the curtains from the windows. Close all interior doors to slow down the fire spreading in the building.
“Fill up the bathtub, wash-basins and buckets so that you have spare water. Gather all together in one room. Keep a torch and spare batteries at hand in case of electric power failure.”
Can you cancel your holiday?
12:00 , Alexander ButlerAs the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Greece, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you’re looking to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes.
If you do have travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
Is it safe to travel to Crete? What to know as island wildfires rage
Will your flight get cancelled?
11:45 , Amelia NeathThere appears to be no disruption to flights due to the wildfires. Both of the island’s main airports are in the north, away from the fires.
Heraklion International Airport on Crete has no cancellations or disruptions to its flight schedule, data from FlightRadar shows.
Chania International Airport, also on the island, has not seen any significant disruptions to its flights.
Most airlines adhere to a policy whereby they should put you on the next available flight in the event of a cancellation. Compensation is unlikely when the cause of a cancellation is out of the airline’s control, such as wildfires.
Emergency alert sent to tourists
11:34 , Alexander ButlerThe Fire Service and a civil protection agency issued mobile phone alerts for the evacuations and appealed to residents not to return to try to save their property.
Stay safe: advice from Greek ministry for Civil Protection
11:20 , Alexander ButlerThe Greek ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection provides online advice on contending with forest fires. If fire has reached your location, the authorities say: “Do not abandon the building unless your escape is completely secured. Do not take shelter in a car. The possibility of survival in a building constructed by non-flammable materials is greater than that inside a vehicle close to smoke and fire.
“If you stay indoors, close firmly all the doors and windows. Block up all the cracks with wet clothes, in order to prevent smoke penetration. Remove the curtains from the windows. Close all interior doors to slow down the fire spreading in the building.
“Fill up the bathtub, wash-basins and buckets so that you have spare water. Gather all together in one room. Keep a torch and spare batteries at hand in case of electric power failure.”
Flights from UK to Crete continue – though with delays
11:10 , Alexander ButlerThe first wave of flights from the UK on Thursday are en route to Crete, with airlines operating as normal.
All the initial departures so far are showing as delayed by up to an hour on the Flightradar24 tracking site.
The delays are unrelated to the wildfires. Hold-ups are due to a scarcity of “slots” for flights triggered by three elements:
- A strike by French air-traffic controllers, which is affecting overflights; the direct route from UK airports to Crete passes over eastern France.
- Underlying staff shortages at air-traffic control centres along the route, especially at Karlsruhe in western Germany.
- Summer storm activity in the vicinity of the Alps.
Crete wildfires mapped: Mass evacuations as fires burn on south coast of holiday island
11:00 , Alexander ButlerCrete wildfires mapped: Mass evacuations as fires burn on south coast
Can you cancel your holiday?
10:50 , Amelia NeathAs the Foreign Office has not warned against non-essential travel to Greece, there will be no special circumstances in place to be able to cancel a trip for a full refund.
The conditions for cancelling your trip will be dependent on your holiday provider, so it’s best to contact them if you’re looking to postpone.
There is no obligation for companies to refund bookings if you want to cancel, and you will not be able to claim on your travel insurance due to safety concerns unless government advice changes.
If you do have travel insurance, some policies include natural disaster cover for an event that prevents you from reaching your holiday destination. Check your insurance policies and speak to your insurer to see where you stand.
Is it safe to travel to Crete? What to know as island wildfires rage
Will your flight get cancelled?
10:40 , Amelia NeathThere appears to be no disruption to flights due to the wildfires. Both of the island’s main airports are in the north, away from the fires.
Heraklion International Airport on Crete has no cancellations or disruptions to its flight schedule, data from FlightRadar shows.
Chania International Airport, also on the island, has not seen any significant disruptions to its flights.
Most airlines adhere to a policy whereby they should put you on the next available flight in the event of a cancellation. Compensation is unlikely when the cause of a cancellation is out of the airline’s control, such as wildfires.
Tourists evacuated as Crete wildfire rages
10:30 , Alexander ButlerNektarios Papadakis, a regional civil protection official, told The Times: “It is a very difficult situation. The fire is very hard to contain. Right now, they cannot contain it.”
“The tourists who were moved out are all OK. They have been taken to an indoor basketball arena and hotels in other regions of the island,” he added.”
Avgi Makridoukaki, the owner of a guesthouse in Agia Fotia, said that she helped a French couple move to a safer part of the island.
At least 1,500 evacuated as massive wildfire rips through Greek holiday island
10:20 , Alexander ButlerRead the full story:
At least 1,500 evacuated as massive wildfire rips through Greek holiday island
Where are the wildfires?
10:16 , Amelia NeathThe fires broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the forested hills near Ierapetra, where dense, flammable vegetation was set alight and spread quickly due to gusty winds.
Just before 3pm on Wednesday, Greece’s emergency services warned of an active forest fire in Crete. It told those in the areas of Agia Fotia, Achlia, Galini and Ferma to move away and evacuate towards Ierapetra, following the instructions of the authorities.
Just after 6pm, it also advised the same of those in Koutsounari.
Authorities have shut off roads near the fire zone, telling residents and tourists to avoid non-essential travel due to the hazardous air quality, falling ash and harsh heat.
The strong winds have sent the flames southward stretching more than 6km, authorities have said, while thick smoke has also fallen over the region, reaching as far as some beaches 10km from the fire area.
Over 100 firefighters rush to fight fire in Halkidiki
10:04 , Alexander ButlerA separate fire broke out in Halkidiki region of Greece, with 160 firefighters and 49 vehicles involved in emergency response, the fire service said.
The service warned that the country was entering “the most difficult month of the fire season,” with strong winds contributing to their spread.
Separate wildfires were reported in Germany, where at least two were seriously injured and over 100 reportedly evacuated in a forest fire in Saxony, and in Spain.
At least 46 fire engines and helicopters tackling blaze
09:58 , Alexander ButlerAt least 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and helicopters, rushed to tackle the fire, which broke out a day earlier near Ierapetra town on the southeastern coast of Greece's largest island.
Stoked by gale-force winds, the blaze reached houses and hotels, fire brigade and local officials said, with local media reporting damage to some homes but no injuries.
“Three settlements were evacuated and more than 1,000 left their homes. Some were taken to health centres with respiratory problems,” Crete's deputy civil protection governor, George Tsapakos, said.
Mapped: Risk of wildfires across Greece
09:55 , Alexander Butler
Greece in a 'wildfire hotspot' as summer heatwave hits Europe hard
09:36 , Alex CroftGreece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists have called "a wildfire hotspot" - with blazes common during hot and dry summers.
These have become more destructive in recent years, authorities say, due to a fast-changing climate.
More than 50,000 people were this week evacuated due to wildfires in the western province of Izmir, as Europe lies in the grip of a deadly heatwave.
At least eight people have died as a result of the heatwave, with casualties recorded in Spain, Italy and France.
Backup firefighters arrive from Athens on Thursday as wind hinders operation
09:30 , Alex CroftAlongside reinforcements from Athens on Thursday, firefighters fought to tame several resurgent blazes whipped up by winds, fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said.
"There are wind gusts in the area, some measuring 9 on the Beaufort scale, which are triggering rekindling and hindering firefighting efforts," Vathrakogiannis said.
July tended to be the most difficult month of the fire season due to high temperatures and strong winds, he said.
More pictures from the scene of the wildfire
09:27 , Alex Croft
Four elderly people hospitalised due to smoke inhalation
09:24 , Alex CroftThere have so far been no reports of any major health incidents following the fire.
But at least four people have been taken to the local hospital with respiratory problems due to smoke inhalation, the BBC is reporting.
All hospitals on the island have been put on alert as a precaution, it reports.
The fire service is also urging residents not to return to try and save their property due to the risks to health.
Fire is 'very hard to contain' say authorities
09:11 , Alex CroftAuthorities have been battling the flames for hours overnight, but gale-force winds have made it difficult to contain the fire.
The fire department said 230 firefighters backed up by 10 water-dropping aircraft were battling the flames, which have burned through forest and farmland in Crete's Ierapetra area on the island's southern coast.
"It's a very difficult situation. The fire is very hard to contain. Right now, they cannot contain it," Nektarios Papadakis, a civil protection official at the regional authority, told the AP news agency.
"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.”
How did the fire begin?
09:07 , Alex CroftThe fire began in an area of dense, flammable vegetation between Agia Fotia and Skinokapsala, with steep slopes, parched ground and gusty winds making containment extremely difficult.
Officials say crews will work through the night to protect threatened settlements by creating firebreaks.
But the risk of further wildfires remains very high across Crete and parts of southern Greece on Thursday, according to a daily bulletin issued by the Fire Service.
Mass evacuations carried out across the island
08:58 , Alex CroftSince the wildfire broke out yesterday, mass evacuations have been carried out in parts of Crete.
This includes from the Achlia, Ferma, Agia Fotia and Koutsounari areas of the Greek island.
Authorities have ordered the mass evacuation of hotels, rental rooms and homes as flames spread throughout the area. Many buildings have been damaged so far by the fires.
Around 200 evacuees are currently being held in a sports arena in Ierapetra for temporary shelter, as firefighting efforts intensified overnight.
Two people were evacuated by boat overnight, while six private boats were on standby in case further evacuations by sea became necessary, the coast guard said.
Full report: Thousands evacuated as massive wildfire rips through Greek holiday island
08:47 , Alex CroftOur climate correspondent, Stuti Mishra, brings the full report of the huge wildfire in Crete:
At least 1,500 evacuated as massive wildfire rips through Greek holiday island
In pictures: Firefighters battle huge flames in Crete
08:36 , Alex Croft
Hundreds evacuated as wildfires rip through Crete
08:30 , Alex CroftA wildfire has been tearing through Greece’s southern island of Crete, prompting the evacuation of more than 1,500 residents from hotels and homes.
Hundreds of firefighters are now battling the blaze and evacuations by sea have begun, according to the coastguard.
Gale-force winds have fanned the fire after it broke out in the forested terrain near the Ierapetra municipality.
We will be bringing you all the latest news from the wildfires on this live blog.
