Wildfires threaten homes in Crete as Europe swelters through heatwave
At least 1,000 residents have been forced to evacuate so far, with authorities declaring a state of emergency on Thursday.
Around 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and 10 helicopters, were deployed to contain the conflagration on Greece's largest island.
The blaze encroached upon houses and hotels that were earlier evacuated, stoked by intense winds that "rekindled and hindered firefighting efforts," fire brigade spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said.
"It was very scary," said 26-year old Danish tourist Mikkel Sallin, who was ordered to evacuated from his accommodation to another hotel.
"We are just glad to stay here right now and feel safe."
Local media reported damage to some homes, and some people were hospitalised with respiratory issues, an official said.
It came as a new fire also broke out near the Greek capital of Athens, threatening homes and prompting evacuations.
Thick grey smoke billowed over the area, close to the Athens international airport and Rafina, home to the capital's second largest port. The main avenue linking the suburb to Athens was closed to traffic.
Authorities said there was a high risk of fires also on Friday.
Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists dub "a wildfire hotspot" - with blazes common during hot and dry summers.
These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate.
Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10 degrees Celsius in some regions.
Warming seas were trapping hot air over much of Europe, in what has become known as a heat dome.
In Turkiye, thousands have been forced to flee raging wildfires in the coastal province of Izmir.
Italy's health ministry has also issued red alerts for 18 cities amid soaring temperatures, with the country's energy minister also warning of potential black outs due to surging use of air-conditioning.
Reuters
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Thousands evacuated as fires threaten Greece, Crete
Firefighters are battling a fire on the island of Crete that scorched forests and olive groves and forced more than 1000 people to evacuate, while a fresh conflagration near Athens threatened homes, highlighting Greece's vulnerability to wildfire risks. Gale-force winds and aridity on Thursday made for tinderbox conditions, hampering Greek authorities' efforts' to tame the fires, as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave linked to the death of at least eight people across the region. A new fire broke out in the Athens suburb of Pikermi on Thursday afternoon, threatening many homes and prompting the evacuation of three settlements as more than 100 firefighters battled to extinguish it. Thick grey smoke billowed over the area, close to the Athens international airport and Rafina, home to the capital's second largest port. The main avenue linking the suburb to Athens was closed to traffic. Authorities said there was a high risk of fires also on Friday. In Crete, around 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and 10 helicopters, were deployed to contain the conflagration on Crete, which broke out a day earlier near Ierapetra town on the southeastern coast of Greece's largest island. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the wider municipal area of Ierapetra on Thursday, state broadcaster ERT said. The blaze encroached upon houses and hotels that were earlier evacuated, stoked by intense winds that "rekindled and hindered firefighting efforts," fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. More than 1000 residents and tourists were evacuated from at least four settlements. Most took shelter at an indoor stadium in Ierapetra, while others transferred to hotels in the north or left Crete by boat, authorities said. Local media reported damage to some homes, and some people were hospitalised with respiratory issues, an official said. Southeastern Crete saw a massive exodus of about 5000 holidaymakers, George Tzarakis, head of hoteliers in the area, told Reuters, expressing concern over the impact on future bookings. Tourism is a key income earner for the popular tourist island. Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists dub "a wildfire hotspot" - with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate. Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10C in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. July is usually the most difficult month of the fire season due to high temperatures and strong winds, the fire brigade's Vathrakogiannis said. Meanwhile, in Turkey, thousands fled as authorities battled wildfires in Cesme and Odemis districts for a second day on the western coastal province of Izmir. Winds hindered their efforts as the flames approached a main highway to Cesme, local TV footage showed, and thick smoke billowed over mountainous areas. Italy's health ministry issued red alerts for 18 cities as temperatures poised to soar as high as 38C in major cities. Temporary blackouts were possible with power consumption surging from the use of air conditioners, Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin warned. Swiss utility Axpo has shut its two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant due to high river water temperatures. Firefighters are battling a fire on the island of Crete that scorched forests and olive groves and forced more than 1000 people to evacuate, while a fresh conflagration near Athens threatened homes, highlighting Greece's vulnerability to wildfire risks. Gale-force winds and aridity on Thursday made for tinderbox conditions, hampering Greek authorities' efforts' to tame the fires, as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave linked to the death of at least eight people across the region. A new fire broke out in the Athens suburb of Pikermi on Thursday afternoon, threatening many homes and prompting the evacuation of three settlements as more than 100 firefighters battled to extinguish it. Thick grey smoke billowed over the area, close to the Athens international airport and Rafina, home to the capital's second largest port. The main avenue linking the suburb to Athens was closed to traffic. Authorities said there was a high risk of fires also on Friday. In Crete, around 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and 10 helicopters, were deployed to contain the conflagration on Crete, which broke out a day earlier near Ierapetra town on the southeastern coast of Greece's largest island. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the wider municipal area of Ierapetra on Thursday, state broadcaster ERT said. The blaze encroached upon houses and hotels that were earlier evacuated, stoked by intense winds that "rekindled and hindered firefighting efforts," fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. More than 1000 residents and tourists were evacuated from at least four settlements. Most took shelter at an indoor stadium in Ierapetra, while others transferred to hotels in the north or left Crete by boat, authorities said. Local media reported damage to some homes, and some people were hospitalised with respiratory issues, an official said. Southeastern Crete saw a massive exodus of about 5000 holidaymakers, George Tzarakis, head of hoteliers in the area, told Reuters, expressing concern over the impact on future bookings. Tourism is a key income earner for the popular tourist island. Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists dub "a wildfire hotspot" - with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate. Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10C in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. July is usually the most difficult month of the fire season due to high temperatures and strong winds, the fire brigade's Vathrakogiannis said. Meanwhile, in Turkey, thousands fled as authorities battled wildfires in Cesme and Odemis districts for a second day on the western coastal province of Izmir. Winds hindered their efforts as the flames approached a main highway to Cesme, local TV footage showed, and thick smoke billowed over mountainous areas. Italy's health ministry issued red alerts for 18 cities as temperatures poised to soar as high as 38C in major cities. Temporary blackouts were possible with power consumption surging from the use of air conditioners, Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin warned. Swiss utility Axpo has shut its two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant due to high river water temperatures. Firefighters are battling a fire on the island of Crete that scorched forests and olive groves and forced more than 1000 people to evacuate, while a fresh conflagration near Athens threatened homes, highlighting Greece's vulnerability to wildfire risks. Gale-force winds and aridity on Thursday made for tinderbox conditions, hampering Greek authorities' efforts' to tame the fires, as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave linked to the death of at least eight people across the region. A new fire broke out in the Athens suburb of Pikermi on Thursday afternoon, threatening many homes and prompting the evacuation of three settlements as more than 100 firefighters battled to extinguish it. Thick grey smoke billowed over the area, close to the Athens international airport and Rafina, home to the capital's second largest port. The main avenue linking the suburb to Athens was closed to traffic. Authorities said there was a high risk of fires also on Friday. In Crete, around 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and 10 helicopters, were deployed to contain the conflagration on Crete, which broke out a day earlier near Ierapetra town on the southeastern coast of Greece's largest island. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the wider municipal area of Ierapetra on Thursday, state broadcaster ERT said. The blaze encroached upon houses and hotels that were earlier evacuated, stoked by intense winds that "rekindled and hindered firefighting efforts," fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. More than 1000 residents and tourists were evacuated from at least four settlements. Most took shelter at an indoor stadium in Ierapetra, while others transferred to hotels in the north or left Crete by boat, authorities said. Local media reported damage to some homes, and some people were hospitalised with respiratory issues, an official said. Southeastern Crete saw a massive exodus of about 5000 holidaymakers, George Tzarakis, head of hoteliers in the area, told Reuters, expressing concern over the impact on future bookings. Tourism is a key income earner for the popular tourist island. Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists dub "a wildfire hotspot" - with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate. Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10C in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. July is usually the most difficult month of the fire season due to high temperatures and strong winds, the fire brigade's Vathrakogiannis said. Meanwhile, in Turkey, thousands fled as authorities battled wildfires in Cesme and Odemis districts for a second day on the western coastal province of Izmir. Winds hindered their efforts as the flames approached a main highway to Cesme, local TV footage showed, and thick smoke billowed over mountainous areas. Italy's health ministry issued red alerts for 18 cities as temperatures poised to soar as high as 38C in major cities. Temporary blackouts were possible with power consumption surging from the use of air conditioners, Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin warned. Swiss utility Axpo has shut its two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant due to high river water temperatures. Firefighters are battling a fire on the island of Crete that scorched forests and olive groves and forced more than 1000 people to evacuate, while a fresh conflagration near Athens threatened homes, highlighting Greece's vulnerability to wildfire risks. Gale-force winds and aridity on Thursday made for tinderbox conditions, hampering Greek authorities' efforts' to tame the fires, as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave linked to the death of at least eight people across the region. A new fire broke out in the Athens suburb of Pikermi on Thursday afternoon, threatening many homes and prompting the evacuation of three settlements as more than 100 firefighters battled to extinguish it. Thick grey smoke billowed over the area, close to the Athens international airport and Rafina, home to the capital's second largest port. The main avenue linking the suburb to Athens was closed to traffic. Authorities said there was a high risk of fires also on Friday. In Crete, around 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and 10 helicopters, were deployed to contain the conflagration on Crete, which broke out a day earlier near Ierapetra town on the southeastern coast of Greece's largest island. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the wider municipal area of Ierapetra on Thursday, state broadcaster ERT said. The blaze encroached upon houses and hotels that were earlier evacuated, stoked by intense winds that "rekindled and hindered firefighting efforts," fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. More than 1000 residents and tourists were evacuated from at least four settlements. Most took shelter at an indoor stadium in Ierapetra, while others transferred to hotels in the north or left Crete by boat, authorities said. Local media reported damage to some homes, and some people were hospitalised with respiratory issues, an official said. Southeastern Crete saw a massive exodus of about 5000 holidaymakers, George Tzarakis, head of hoteliers in the area, told Reuters, expressing concern over the impact on future bookings. Tourism is a key income earner for the popular tourist island. Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists dub "a wildfire hotspot" - with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate. Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10C in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. July is usually the most difficult month of the fire season due to high temperatures and strong winds, the fire brigade's Vathrakogiannis said. Meanwhile, in Turkey, thousands fled as authorities battled wildfires in Cesme and Odemis districts for a second day on the western coastal province of Izmir. Winds hindered their efforts as the flames approached a main highway to Cesme, local TV footage showed, and thick smoke billowed over mountainous areas. Italy's health ministry issued red alerts for 18 cities as temperatures poised to soar as high as 38C in major cities. Temporary blackouts were possible with power consumption surging from the use of air conditioners, Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin warned. Swiss utility Axpo has shut its two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant due to high river water temperatures.
Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Thousands evacuated as fires threaten Greece, Crete
Firefighters are battling a fire on the island of Crete that scorched forests and olive groves and forced more than 1000 people to evacuate, while a fresh conflagration near Athens threatened homes, highlighting Greece's vulnerability to wildfire risks. Gale-force winds and aridity on Thursday made for tinderbox conditions, hampering Greek authorities' efforts' to tame the fires, as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave linked to the death of at least eight people across the region. A new fire broke out in the Athens suburb of Pikermi on Thursday afternoon, threatening many homes and prompting the evacuation of three settlements as more than 100 firefighters battled to extinguish it. Thick grey smoke billowed over the area, close to the Athens international airport and Rafina, home to the capital's second largest port. The main avenue linking the suburb to Athens was closed to traffic. Authorities said there was a high risk of fires also on Friday. In Crete, around 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and 10 helicopters, were deployed to contain the conflagration on Crete, which broke out a day earlier near Ierapetra town on the southeastern coast of Greece's largest island. Authorities declared a state of emergency in the wider municipal area of Ierapetra on Thursday, state broadcaster ERT said. The blaze encroached upon houses and hotels that were earlier evacuated, stoked by intense winds that "rekindled and hindered firefighting efforts," fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. More than 1000 residents and tourists were evacuated from at least four settlements. Most took shelter at an indoor stadium in Ierapetra, while others transferred to hotels in the north or left Crete by boat, authorities said. Local media reported damage to some homes, and some people were hospitalised with respiratory issues, an official said. Southeastern Crete saw a massive exodus of about 5000 holidaymakers, George Tzarakis, head of hoteliers in the area, told Reuters, expressing concern over the impact on future bookings. Tourism is a key income earner for the popular tourist island. Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean are in an area scientists dub "a wildfire hotspot" - with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate. Scientists say heatwaves have arrived earlier this year, spiking temperatures by up to 10C in some regions as warming seas encouraged the formation of a heat dome over much of Europe, trapping hot air masses. July is usually the most difficult month of the fire season due to high temperatures and strong winds, the fire brigade's Vathrakogiannis said. Meanwhile, in Turkey, thousands fled as authorities battled wildfires in Cesme and Odemis districts for a second day on the western coastal province of Izmir. Winds hindered their efforts as the flames approached a main highway to Cesme, local TV footage showed, and thick smoke billowed over mountainous areas. Italy's health ministry issued red alerts for 18 cities as temperatures poised to soar as high as 38C in major cities. Temporary blackouts were possible with power consumption surging from the use of air conditioners, Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin warned. Swiss utility Axpo has shut its two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant due to high river water temperatures.
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- News.com.au
Thousands evacuated as Greek, Turkish wildfires rage
A wildfire fanned by gale-force winds on the southern Greek island of Crete has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists, officials said Thursday. An elderly man died in neighbouring Turkey, where wildfires forced the evacuation of six villages in the western province of Izmir. Some 30 kilometres (19 miles) east of Athens, another fire broke out near the port of Rafina on Thursday afternoon and had already burned five or six houses, one local mayor told ERT public television. Hot dry weather in Greece -- not unusual for this time of year -- has heightened the risk of a repeat of the summer wildfires that have hit the country in recent years. Turkey, although spared the recent heatwaves that gripped southern Europe, has battled the effects of a long-term drought likely brought on by climate change. On Crete, about 5,000 people were evacuated after a blaze that broke out Wednesday evening, the president of the regional hotels' association told AFP. Yorgos Tzarakis said about 3,000 tourists and 2,000 residents had been moved, mostly overnight, as a precaution from areas close to the Crete resort town of Ierapetra. Vice-prefect Yannis Androulakis told Greek broadcaster Mega officials had ordered the evacuations because water bomber planes could not reach the affected areas overnight. Those evacuated had been put up in hotels or gyms in Ierapetra, in the southeast, he added. Strong winds on three active fronts helped the fire to progress, said Androulakis. Fire service spokesman Vassilios Vathrakoyannis said around 170 firefighters, 17 firefighting planes, 48 fire engines and seven helicopters were fighting the blaze. Winds reached nine on the Beaufort scale, he added. - One dead in Turkey - In Turkey, two wildfires broke out near Izmir, Turkey's third city. In each case, three villages were evacuated. "An elderly, bedridden patient could not be saved," said Salih Uzun, a lawmaker in Izmir for the opposition CHP party, of the blaze close to Odemis. Izmir governor Suleyman Elban said the main problem had been wind speeds of up to 85 kilometres per hour (53 miles per hour) and their constant changes of direction. "So the intervention from both land and air is seriously challenging," he told reporters, adding that the flames had cut off the main highway from Izmir city. In both places, a total of "nine planes, 22 helicopters and 1,100 (fire trucks and other) vehicles are intensively fighting the fires". He said both fires in the province, as well as others over the weekend and since mastered, had been caused by power cables. Meteorologist Ismail Kucuk, citing forestry ministry figures, told AFP "90 percent of forest fires" were due to man-made causes. Power cables in particular posed a risk if not properly maintained, he added. - Uneven, arid terrain - The inaccessible terrain in Crete, Greece's largest island, has made it difficult for firefighters to tackle the blaze. The fire damaged houses and crops in fruit and vegetable greenhouses, media reports said. Like the rest of Crete, Ierapetra -- a seaside resort with a population of 23,000 -- takes in thousands of tourists in the summer. The risk of fires was "considerable" in July, the hottest month of the year in Greece, Vathrakoyannis said. The country recorded its hottest-ever summer in 2024, when 45,000 hectares (110,000 acres) of land burned, according to WWF Greece and the Athens National Observatory. In terms of surface area destroyed, 2023 was the worst on record. Nearly 175,000 hectares were obliterated and 20 people died during heatwaves when temperatures rose in places to 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit). Experts say human-driven climate change is causing more frequent and more intense wildfires and other natural disasters, and have warned Turkey to take measures to tackle the problem. hec-yap/jj/gv
