Latest news with #Lerapetra
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Telegraph
Abbir Dib
More than 150 firefighters battling huge blaze at popular holiday destination near Ferma and Lerapetra
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Tourist resorts evacuated as strong winds fan wildfire spreading across Greek island
A massive wildfire is rapidly spreading across the Greek island of Crete, forcing the evacuation of at least 1,500 people from villages, tourist resorts, and coastal hotels. The blaze, which started Wednesday afternoon near Lerapetra, is being fuelled by gale-force winds, making containment extremely difficult for emergency services. The fast-moving fire has already destroyed homes and rental properties in settlements like Agia Fotia, leading to power cuts and road closures. Firefighting efforts involving 155 firefighters, numerous engines, and air support are ongoing, with reinforcements arriving from the mainland to battle the flames. Several people have been treated for smoke inhalation, and hospitals across Crete are on alert as the region, like other parts of Europe, experiences a heatwave.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Yahoo
Greek spot popular with Edinburgh tourists sees mass evacuations after wildfire
A ferocious wildfire on a Greek island popular with capital tourists sees firefighters race to get the blaze under control. The inferno began on Wednesday July 2 at a forested area close to the municipality of Lerapetra but gale-force winds reaching up to eight on the Beaufort scale, led to the fire spreading quickly to the south which threatened several local homes and tourist accommodation. The Mirror reports that around 3,000 residents have been evacuated from various areas, including Achlia, Agia Fotia, Galini, Ferma, and Koutsounariand and put up in temporary shelters. READ MORE: Edinburgh street closed 'suddenly' will stay shut to traffic until summer 2028 READ MORE: Moment wild Edinburgh girl gang members ransack cafe at Princes Street attraction The fire front now extends over at least 6km, according to emergency services, making containment increasingly difficult. The evacuees have been relocated to temporary shelters on the holiday island, including an indoor basketball arena in Lerapetra and various hotels across other parts of the island. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Over 2,700 personnel from multiple agencies have been dispatched to the region to tackle the blaze, backed by eight firefighting planes, 12 helicopters, and a fleet of fire trucks and specialised equipment. At least four elderly people have been rushed to hospital with respiratory problems caused by smoke inhalation. As a precaution, all hospitals in Crete have been placed on alert by health authorities, BBC reports. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox '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 Associated Press. '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.'
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Greece wildfire latest: Hundreds evacuated from hotels and homes in Crete as fires tear through holiday island
Hundreds 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. Gale-force winds have driven flames southward across a front now stretching more than 6km, emergency services said. More than 1,500 people were evacuated from hotels and homes on Wednesday as fire-fighting efforts intensified. Several people were treated for breathing difficulties, officials said, but there were no immediate reports of serious injuries. 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.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Thousands evacuated as massive wildfire rips through Greek holiday island
A massive wildfire is tearing through the Greek island of Crete, forcing the evacuation of at least 1,500 people from villages, tourist resorts and coastal hotels as strong winds fuel the blaze's rapid advance. The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the forested hills near Lerapetra. Crete is one of Greece's most popular destinations for both foreign and domestic tourists. Gale-force winds, gusting up to eight on the Beaufort scale, have driven flames southward across a front now stretching more than 6km, emergency services said. The fast-moving blaze has already destroyed homes and rental properties in settlements such as Agia Fotia, where local reports say power has been cut. Authorities have closed major roads near the fire zone and urged residents and holidaymakers to avoid non-essential travel due to hazardous air quality, intense heat and falling ash. Thick smoke has blanketed the region, reducing visibility and reaching beaches 10km from the fire front. A map of Lerapertra: Mass evacuations have been carried out in areas like Achlia, Ferma, Agia Fotia and Koutsounari, with many evacuees sent to Lerapetra's indoor sports hall for temporary shelter. Emergency alerts have been broadcast throughout the day, instructing people to leave immediately. Some trapped individuals have reportedly been evacuated by boat from isolated beaches. Firefighting efforts intensified overnight, with 155 firefighters, dozens of engines, specialised forest crews and helicopters battling the flames. Additional teams and equipment were arriving by sea and air from the mainland to reinforce exhausted local units. Several people, including elderly residents, have been treated for smoke inhalation and health authorities have placed hospitals on alert across Crete. '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 Associated Press overnight. '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. The 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. The crisis comes while a heatwave grips parts of Europe. In France, hundreds of schools were closed as the temperature gauge hit 40C in Paris on Tuesday, according to the weather service Meteo-France, with a lower high of 35C expected on Wednesday. Italy recorded t wo deaths linked to extreme heat. Earlier in the week, Turkey evacuated more than 50,000 people facing wildfires in Izmir province.
