Wildfires cause mass evacuations in Turkey and Greece
More than 50,000 people have been evacuated in Turkey, and 5,000 on the Greek island of Crete as strong winds fuel wildfires
Crete, Greece
A large wildfire continues to rage out of control on the Greek island of Crete, prompting the evacuation of more than 5,000 residents and tourists.
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon near the municipality of Ierapetra and has been spreading through dense, highly flammable forest, threatening residential areas, tourist accommodation, and vital infrastructure, including a fuel station.
The fire department’s press spokesperson, Chief Vasilios Vathrakoyannis, said in a statement that firefighters were dealing with many scattered fires across the area, made worse by strong winds reaching up to 9 on the Beaufort scale. These winds are causing new flare-ups, making it very hard to control the blaze. According to emergency services, the fire front now spans over 6 kilometres. Thick smoke has blanketed the region, drastically reducing visibility in several areas.
So far, 230 firefighters are on the ground, working with 13 teams on foot, 46 fire trucks, and a unit using drones to help monitor the fire. Ten helicopters are helping from the air.
The police, emergency medical teams, and the coast guard have also been mobilised.
The Fire Department also confirmed that a separate fire broke out in Vourvourou, Halkidiki, in northern Greece. As a precaution, a nearby campsite was evacuated. In response, 160 firefighters, including seven specialised forest commando teams, have been deployed along with 49 fire vehicles, a drone unit, and volunteer support. Water tankers and heavy machinery from the Region of Central Macedonia are also assisting in the firefighting efforts.
Izmir, Turkey
This week, more than 50,000 people have been evacuated in Turkey due to rapidly spreading wildfires across five regions. The fires have impacted multiple areas, with the majority breaking out in the western province of Izmir.
On Monday, the AFAD disaster agency announced via X that residents from 41 different locations had been temporarily relocated to safer areas, with most evacuations taking place near the popular resort city of Izmir. Two people have reportedly died as a result of the fires.
As a precaution, Izmir’s Adnan Menderes Airport temporarily suspended operations on Sunday, 29 June. Services have since resumed, and, according to FlightStats by Cirium, the airport is currently experiencing minimal delays.
Emergency fire crews have been deployed and are actively working to contain and extinguish the fires.
The wildfires coincide with a severe heatwave sweeping across much of Europe, with temperatures soaring to extreme levels. In southwestern France, wildfires also erupted in the Corbières region, where temperatures soared above 40°C, prompting the precautionary evacuation of a campsite and a nearby abbey.
Health warnings related to the heat have been issued in several countries, including France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, England, and Wales.
On 1 July, a wildfire also broke out in the agricultural region of Torrefeta, Catalonia, Spain. The fire engulfed 40 kilometres of land and also spread rapidly due to strong winds. According to reports, two people have died. Firefighters said a rainstorm that arrived later on Tuesday significantly improved conditions, aiding efforts to contain the blaze.
A recent survey found that more travellers are now seeking cooler destinations, with Spain viewed by respondents as the country most likely to be too hot to visit during the summer months.