Hotels and homes evacuated on south coast of Crete as wildfires burn through the night
Several residents were treated for breathing difficulties but there were no immediate reports of serious injuries officials have confirmed.
Homes were reportedly damaged as flames prompted by gale-force winds swept through hillside forests.
More than 200 firefighters battled the flames which continued to burn through forests and farmland.
The fire service and civil protection agency issued mobile phone alerts calling for evacuations and appealing to residents not to return to try and save their properties.
'It's a very difficult situation," said Nektarios Papadakis, a civil protection official at the regional authority. "Right now, they cannot contain [the fire].'
'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,' he said.
Authorities have already tackled dozens of wildfires across Greece so far this year due to the country's hot dry weather.
Many European countries have been experiencing extreme heat over recent days, with Spain and Portugal recording their hottest ever June temperatures.
"Extreme heat is no longer a rare event - it has become the new normal," U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres posted on X.
"The planet is getting hotter & more dangerous - no country is immune."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Anyone going to Greece given two day 'heat dome' alert
Fears of exceptional heat as Foreign Office updates advice amid wildfire concerns for British tourists The South of Europe is bracing for a Heat Dome, which is predicted to extend its reach to Greece, bringing with it heatwave conditions from Sunday, July 6, 2025. Early reports suggest that this heatwave will be relatively short-lived, but temperatures are expected to soar to a sweltering 42 or even 43 degrees Celsius next week. Wednesday, July 9, is set to be the toughest day, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. In some areas, such as Halkida in Evia, the mercury will hit 42 degrees Celsius. Following a brief respite with cooler than average temperatures, the heat is set to return with a vengeance, as a five-day heatwave is forecasted, with high temperatures lingering for several days. However, relief is in sight, with a significant drop in temperatures expected from Thursday, July 10. Open TV's meteorologist Klearhos Marousakis predicts a sharp rise in temperature from Monday to Thursday, July 7-11, due to a westerly current entering Greece, acting as a windbreak for the eastern mainland. He forecasts peak temperatures of 40 to 42 degrees Celsius around Tuesday and Wednesday next week. From Saturday, July 5, temperatures will gradually begin to climb as the meltemi (summer northern winds) depart the area and the pressure difference decreases. The very dry wind levels are expected to persist until Friday, July 5. READ MORE: Spanish 'Maldives' with crystal clear water you can fly to for £15 The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice - with concerns rising about an outbreak of wildfires in the dry country. It said: "There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location. "Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly." To avoid starting wildfires: leave no litter, especially not glass which is known to start fires make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished do not light barbecues Causing a wildfire or a forest fire is a criminal offence in Greece – even if unintentional. If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112. Be cautious if you are in or near an area affected by wildfires: follow @112Greece for official updates follow the guidance of the emergency services call the Greek emergency services on 112 if you are in immediate danger contact your airline or travel operator who can assist you with return travel to the UK Meanwhile, Europe experienced its first major heatwave of the summer this week, with Barcelona recording its hottest June in over a century and Paris reaching scorching temperatures. The iconic Eiffel Tower was shut to visitors due to the heatwave. Health warnings were issued in several countries as the extreme heat persisted. Samantha Burgess, from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, stated that the unusually hot weather "is exposing millions of Europeans to high heat stress", with temperatures more akin to those usually seen in July and August. Barcelona's Fabra Observatory reported a record-breaking average temperature of 26C for last month, the highest since records began in 1914. The Observatory also noted a single-day high of 37.9C for June recorded on Monday. Barcelona typically avoids Spain's most intense heat due to its location between hills and the Mediterranean Sea. Ramon Pascual, a representative for Spain's weather service in Barcelona, told the Associated Press that the "very intense heatwave" is undeniably linked to global warming. Mr Pascual pointed out that the rising sea temperatures are not helping those living in the Mediterranean region, as they significantly reduce any cooling effects from nearby bodies of water. Spain's weather service reported that recent surface temperatures for the Mediterranean near the Balearic Islands are 5-6C above average. Spain's national average for June was 23.6C, which is 0.8C hotter than the previous hottest June in 2017. Madrid was expected to hit a sweltering 39C. In Paris, temperatures were predicted to reach a staggering 40C. The national weather agency, Meteo-France, placed several departments under the highest red alert. Over 1,300 schools were either partially or fully closed due to the heat. Visitors to the Eiffel Tower without tickets were left disappointed as the landmark closed due to the extreme heat. Visitors were advised to delay their plans as the summit was temporarily shut down until Thursday for "everyone's comfort and safety". Climate specialists are sounding the alarm, predicting that future summers could outdo all previous records, with scorching highs over 40C becoming an annual occurrence by the century's end. Italy's health ministry has reported a heatwave gripping 17 out of its 27 key cities. Florence felt the brunt of the heat on Tuesday, with mercury hitting 38C, leading to a city centre blackout due to a surge in power usage. Energy giant Enel confirmed that power was swiftly restored thanks to emergency systems. Tragedy struck near Bologna where a 46 year old construction firm boss succumbed while working on a school car park, with state broadcaster RAI attributing his collapse to the intense heat, pending autopsy results. In Soest, Netherlands, local fire services announced they'd be joining a water gun battle with a real fire hose, teasing on social media: "Bring your water pistol and swimming clothes with you, because you're guaranteed to get soaked!". Portugal's meteorological authority confirmed a record-breaking high for June in mainland Portugal, with Mora, west of Lisbon, scalding at 46.6C on June 29. Meanwhile, Turkey's firefighters are battling blazes for the third day running, leading to the evacuation of around 50,000 people.
Powys County Times
2 days ago
- Powys County Times
Firefighters race to contain wildfires in Greece as thousands evacuated
Firefighters have been racing to contain wildfires that forced thousands to flee holiday resorts on the southern Greek island of Crete, while neighbouring Turkey grappled with its own deadly blazes that 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 were 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. Separately on Thursday, a wildfire near the port of Rafina, about 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 a 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. Meanwhile, hundreds of firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, were deployed to battle a wildfire near the Aegean coastal town of Cesme, a popular holiday destination about 120 miles west of Odemis. That fire, which began on Wednesday, forced the evacuation of three neighbourhoods and led to road closures. Television footage showed flames racing through dry vegetation on both sides of a major road. Over the past week, Turkey has battled hundreds of wildfires fuelled 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 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.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Sweltering European heatwave to send UK temperatures on 34C on these exact dates
Although fresher air is now hitting the UK Europe continues to struggle in soaring temperatures with signs that another heatwave could affect the UK in the middle of July Temperatures are set to reach sweltering heights in the coming days with the hottest days of the year forecast for the middle of July. This week running into the beginning of next week, temperatures will stay at around average for the time of the year. However, in the South the mercury will continue to rise until Friday 11 July, when a European heatwave will push UK temperatures past 30C. UK heat is expected to intensify to a high for the year for three days between Tuesday 15, and Thursday 17, leaving East Anglia enjoying a balmy 34C, according to Net Weather. This will be at the northwestern edge of more intense heat for mainland Europe. The GFS Model and ECM model also support this prediction. The heat can remain and build up over the Iberian Peninsula in summer, moving into southern France where sunshine will be very strong. The jetstream is expected to dip southwards past the UK this weekend leaving us with fresher air. Next week, the Azores high will persist, reaching over southern Britain. Lower pressures will bring cooler weather fronts over the northern half of the UK from the Atlantic. The GFS then shows disruption of the jet and this surge northwards of the heat through western Europe for the middle of July. The first day of July was the hottest day of the year with the mercury rising to 34.7 C at St James's Park in London. Close to this were East Malling, Writtle and Teddington, also passing 34C, accompanied by intense humidity. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, the top temperatures were between 17C to 20C as fresher air arrived from the northwest but London experienced another sultry, close night. This hot and humid start to July followed England's 'warmest June on record, the UK seeing its second warmest since the series began in 1884,' according to provisional Met Office statistics. Across Europe, a dangerous heatwave has caused havoc. There were red heat warnings for France, Belgium, Germany and Croatia as schools closed and in Italy, working outside was stopped as power blackouts occurred. Tropical nights, which is any night hotter than 20C, are a particular concern for people's health as there is no time to recover from the heat of the day. The last few days have still been warm for Greater London, but less humid and oppressive. For northern Britain and Northern Ireland, overnight temperatures have fallen back into single figures England will continue to see temperatures in the low to mid 20Cs for the next few days, perhaps reaching 27C with warm days but cooler nights.
