A ferocious wildfire fueled by gale-force gusts has driven the evacuation of more than 1,500 individuals on the Greek island of Crete, as most of southern and central Europe is still gripped by a severe early-summer heatwave that has so far killed at least nine.
The blaze, which erupted close to the seaside town of Ierapetra on Crete’s southern coast, has triggered a huge rescue effort involving 230 firefighters, 46 machines, and a number of helicopters. Four villages were evacuated, while villagers and tourists took shelter in an indoor arena or escaped the island by ferry. Some damage to property was reported locally, and around 5,000 tourists left southeast Crete on their own.
Strong winds some of which were level 9 on the Beaufort scale have been hindering fire-fighting efforts, with officials predicting recurring flare-ups. The island’s topography and dry nature are proving to contain especially difficult.
Meanwhile, another extensive fire is still ablaze in the Halkidiki area, with 160 firefighters fighting fires. Firs in neighboring Turkey in Izmir province saw villages evacuated. One elderly man, who could not be relocated, perished in the Odemis fire.
Elsewhere, close to 500 firefighters in eastern Germany are fighting fires in Gohrischheide, where two emergency personnel were seriously hurt. Unexploded ordnance from an old military base is making work harder.
Europe’s heatwave continues, with areas in Spain, Italy, Hungary, and Poland experiencing temperatures in their mid-30s Celsius. Italy has threatened red heat warnings for 18 cities, and at least five individuals have already perished from the heat, including construction workers and elderly citizens.
Two victims of wildfires in Spain died from inhaling smoke, while countries such as Albania and Serbia are experiencing crop damage due to unprecedented drought. Scientists alert that these earlier-than-normal heatwaves are fueled by warming oceans and the creation of a persistent “heat dome” over the continent.
