A major wildfire on the Greek island of Crete is burning out of control on all fronts, with firefighting aircraft unable to operate due to strong winds. The blaze broke out near the village of Krya Vrysi in southern Rethymno on Wednesday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of around 8,000 people. Three firefighters have died battling fires in Crete and the Peloponnese region.
EU warns of continent-wide fire risk
Maria Zuber, head of the EU's Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre, warned that wildfires could engulf all of Europe within days. “The next risk, it's already moving to Greece and also Central Europe,” she told reporters. “Greece for the moment was spared, and now we see that it will go to Greece.” She added that Italy would face risk at the beginning of August, and if the Iberian Peninsula also burns, “we will have all Europe on fire.”
The warning comes as intense blazes ravage France, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey. In France, the huge fire in Gironde that has burned 42,000 hectares remained stable after a calm night, with cooler temperatures and some showers expected. The prefecture said conditions were “rather favourable” and that a return to a more normal life could be considered for residents.
Greek firefighting deaths
Two firefighters, aged 25 and 58, died on Wednesday when they became trapped while battling the blaze at Krya Vrysi. The youngest, Padelis Diamadakis, had only just started working as a seasonal firefighter after completing his studies. A third firefighter, aged 27, was found unconscious and later died while tackling a wildfire in Gytheio on the Mani peninsula. Two other firefighters sustained minor burns after their fire engines were engulfed in flames on Crete.
Wildfires also spread across the Greek islands of Paros and Lesvos, and a “very high fire risk” was declared for Thursday in regions including Attica, the Peloponnese, central Greece, the North and South Aegean, and Crete.
France: fire progress and warnings
In south-west France, more than 2,200 firefighters and over 20 aircraft remain mobilised. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said Gironde is the country's biggest wildfire battle, with the advance of major fires in Landes and Var halted. The Gironde fire forced 220,000 people to flee at its peak, though tens of thousands have since been allowed home. Investigators believe a brush-cutting machine working near a high-voltage line ignited the blaze, despite the work appearing to comply with regulations.
A separate fire broke out in the Var region near Brignoles, with 200 firefighters and six helicopters deployed. Residents in seven towns near Bermillo de Sayago were evacuated due to a forest fire, and the municipality of Fermoselle was locked down. In Spain, the Civil Guard issued a level two extreme warning for wildfires in Fermoselle, Zamora.
International response and evacuations
The UK and France committed to strengthening cooperation on climate resilience, with a government spokesperson stating they will work together to “advance international efforts on climate resilience.” Actor George Clooney and his wife Amal were forced to evacuate their home in Brignoles, southeastern France. In a letter to the mayor, Clooney wrote: “At this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment.”
Two people have been arrested on suspicion of arson near Bordeaux. The UK also saw a grassland fire in East London, where 100 firefighters tackled four hectares of burning grassland.
