Thousands evacuated in Crete as European wildfires continue to rage

What the report says

BBC World News reports that thousands of residents and tourists have been evacuated on the Greek island of Crete as wildfires, intensified by severe winds, threaten villages and tourist areas. The main fire is in the Rethymno region of western Crete, where about 8,000 people were moved overnight after gusts reportedly reached 125km/h. Temporary shelters have been arranged, including for visitors, during one of the island’s busiest tourism periods.

According to the BBC, the Rethymno blaze began on Wednesday and has already damaged homes and farmland, though local officials said the full extent of destruction was not yet known. The fire front has stretched beyond 15km and remained out of control. Around 224 firefighters, 53 engines, 11 specialised units and two aircraft have been assigned, but strong winds have hampered operations and local reports said aircraft could not fly on Thursday morning.

The emergency follows the deaths of two firefighters on Crete near Krya Vrysi and a third near Gytheio in the Peloponnese. Greece is one of several European countries dealing with dangerous fire conditions amid high temperatures and drought. The BBC also reported evacuations in Spain near Zamora, injuries from a fire in Portugal, major burned areas in Ávila and France’s Gironde region, and evacuations in parts of Turkey, where authorities said most fires had been brought under control.

The wider context is a hotter, drier Europe. The Copernicus Climate Change Service says Europe is warming faster than the global average, a trend associated with more intense heatwaves, pressure on water supplies and worsening wildfire risks.