More than 5,000 people evacuated due to an out-of-control fire on the island of Crete.
Greek authorities warn that the situation is "very difficult."
This browser does not support the video element.
BarcelonaThe latest focus of the massive heat wave affecting Europe is the Greek island of Crete. Working to extinguish the blaze, which is on at least three fronts and is spreading rapidly, driven by gusts of wind that are making it difficult to extinguish, has rekindled the flames, and the evacuation of four more coastal towns has been ordered, adding to the five already evacuated.
The flames have reached scattered houses in the area, according to the deputy mayor of the municipality of Ierapetra, Nektarios Papadakis: "We have suffered significant damage" and lamented that the fire has burned areas of forest and olive groves. At least four people have been hospitalized after being lured into their homes by the bodies.
In the town of Àgia Fotià, also evacuated, two people surrounded by fire on a beach were rescued by a private boat with the help of the Coast Guard, according to the SKAI channel.
The fire started yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, near the coastal town of Allià and quickly spread westward along the coast.
This afternoon, a forest fire also broke out in the town of Rafina, 20 kilometers from Athens. The fire, which has already burned at least five homes, has forced the evacuation of 1,200 people, and dense smoke has closed a runway at the Greek capital's international airport. Air traffic was restored around 5 p.m. local time.
Greece at "very high" fire risk
The high temperatures of the last week have completely dried out vegetation and turned several parts of the country into a breeding ground for forest fires. Fire departments are reaching their limits as they deal with dozens of fires every day. Another blaze is in the Greek region of Halkidiki, where 160 firefighters and 49 vehicles are involved. The service warned that the country was entering "the most difficult month of the fire season," with strong winds contributing to the spread of fires.
Likewise, local meteorological services warn that a very high risk of fire is expected today, Thursday, in five regions of the country: Attica, Crete, Evia, as well as in parts of the Peloponnese and the northern Aegean. Emergency services have received instructions from the General Secretariat of Civil Protection to increase their preparedness to deal with any fire.