Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday paid tribute to two firefighters killed while battling a wildfire on the southern island of Crete, pledging continued efforts to strengthen the country’s defenses against increasingly destructive conflagrations.

The flames were being fanned by strong winds in the area, which were hampering firefighting efforts.

The Fire Service confirmed Wednesday that two firefighters have died during efforts to contain a major forest fire on the southern island of Crete that has so far forced the…