More than 5,000 people evacuated due to an out-of-control fire on the island of Crete.

BarcelonaThe latest focus of the massive heat wave affecting Europe is the Greek island of Crete. More than 5,000 people, mostly tourists, have been evacuated from the Lasithi region on the southern coast due to a forest fire that started on Wednesday and is currently out of control. More than 230 firefighters and 13 hiking teams are 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. There are also a dozen helicopters and water tankers working to contain the flames, and Greek Civil Protection authorities have warned that the situation is "very difficult." Although the situation appeared to have improved this morning, strong gusts of wind have rekindled the flames, and the evacuation of four more coastal towns has been ordered, in addition to the five already evacuated.

The evacuees, nearly 1,000 of whom are residents, have been moved to a ward in the municipality of Ierapetra, where they are sheltered and receiving care.

The flames reached scattered homes in the area, according to the deputy mayor of the municipality of Ierapetra, Nektarios Papadakis: "We have suffered significant damage." He lamented that the fire had burned forest areas and olive groves. So far, five coastal towns have had to be evacuated. At least four people were hospitalized with respiratory problems, and emergency services had to rescue people trapped in their homes.

In the town of Agia 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 SKAI.

The fire started Wednesday afternoon near the coastal town of Allià and quickly spread westward along the coast.

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.