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- Thousands evacuate as wildfire burns in Crete</p>
<p>Abbir DibJuly 3, 2025 at 6:08 AM</p>
<p>Flames rise as a wildfire burns near Ierapetra, on the island of Crete - Reuters</p>
<p>A rapidly spreading wildfire on the Greek island of Crete has forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate as flames threaten homes and hotels.</p>
<p>Firefighters, backed by water-dropping planes and helicopters, are battling the blaze, which began in the southeastern part of the island on Wednesday afternoon.</p>
<p>Gale-force winds have fanned the flames, making firefighting efforts more difficult.</p>
<p>At least 155 firefighters, along with 38 water trucks and support teams, have been deployed to the municipality of Ierapetra, where the fire has already caused damage to homes and hotels.</p>
<p>So far, more than 1,500 people have been evacuated from the area, with some evacuees taking refuge in temporary shelters.</p>
<p>A total of 155 firefighters were dispatched to the scene - Shutterstock Editorial</p>
<p>The fire now stretches over six kilometres, according to emergency services.</p>
<p>"It's a very difficult situation. The fire is very hard to contain. Right now, they cannot contain it," Nektarios Papadakis, a civil protection official at the regional authority, told the .</p>
<p>"The tourists who were moved out are all ok. They have been taken to an indoor basketball arena and hotels in other regions of the island."</p>
<p>People stand with their luggage as smoke billows from a wildfire in Ferma, Crete - Reuters</p>
<p>Evacuations were ordered for several villages, including Achlia and surrounding settlements, as the blaze advanced toward coastal resorts.</p>
<p>Local authorities issued mobile phone alerts, advising residents to leave immediately and not attempt to save their properties.</p>
<p>Emergency alerts sent throughout the day called for evacuations from Achlia, Ferma, Agia Fotia, Galini and Koutsounari, urging people to move towards Ierapetra.</p>
<p>A firefighter works at the scene of a wildfire in Ierapetra, on Crete island, Greece, 02 July - Shutterstock Editorial</p>
<p>Authorities said there have been no serious injuries, however some locals have been treated for breathing difficulties.</p>
<p>The fire is the latest in a series of wildfires this summer that have plagued Greece's popular tourist destinations.</p>
<p>Last month, wildfires broke out on the Greek holiday island of Chios, causing thousands to evacuate.</p>
<p>The Fire Service issued a daily bulletin on Thursday, warning that the wildfire risk remains exceptionally high across Crete and parts of southern Greece, as firefighters continue to battle multiple active fronts.</p>
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