Dozens of rural and forest fires broke out in Greece within 24 hours, while gale-force winds made firefighting operations difficult in many parts of the country.
From 18:00 on Tuesday to 18:00 on Wednesday, the Greek Fire Service recorded 37 rural and forest fires. Thirty were tackled immediately, while operations were still under way in seven cases. The most serious fronts were in southern Crete and in Plomari on Lesbos, in the northern Aegean.
The largest and most challenging fire was still burning on Thursday morning in southern Rethymno, where two firefighters lost their lives during the operation. The blaze triggered evacuations of villages and tourist areas and caused damage to homes, crops, and livestock facilities, while strong winds significantly limited the ability of aerial assets to intervene.
Fire in southern Rethymno out of control
The fire broke out at around 14:30 on Wednesday in low vegetation near Krya Vrysi, in the municipality of Agios Vasileios, on the southern side of Crete.
