A massive wildfire tearing through the forested hills of eastern Crete has continued to rage uncontrollably for a second straight day, prompting large-scale evacuations, destroying homes, and endangering tourist facilities and vital infrastructure near the municipality of Ierapetra.
The blaze ignited Wednesday afternoon in the rugged terrain between Agia Fotia and the village of Skinokapsala. Driven by gale-force winds reaching level 8 on the Beaufort scale, the fire rapidly spread southward, forming a fire front stretching over 6 kilometers, according to emergency officials.
Describing the situation as “extremely difficult,” authorities said steep slopes, dense vegetation, and powerful winds have made the fire nearly impossible to contain. Thick smoke has engulfed the wider region, severely reducing visibility and drifting as far as the popular Makry Gialos beach, nearly 10 kilometers from the fire’s core.
Police have shut down the main road near Agia Fotia and advised residents and tourists to avoid non-essential travel due to dangerous heat, ashfall, and toxic air conditions.
In Agia Fotia, several homes and rental properties have been destroyed, with widespread power outages reported. At least four elderly residents were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The health ministry has placed hospitals across Crete on high alert.
As flames edged closer to residential zones, authorities ordered mass evacuations from hotels, guesthouses, and homes across the Ferma municipality. More than 1,500 people have been evacuated from nearby villages and tourist areas, with around 200 currently sheltered at the Ierapetra indoor sports arena.
The firefighting response has intensified. By Wednesday night, 155 firefighters, eight specialized ground teams, and 38 fire engines had been deployed. Aerial efforts included four helicopters conducting water drops until nightfall, while local governments dispatched additional water tankers and bulldozers to assist.
Reinforcements from mainland Greece are en route. Seventeen firefighters and a specialized foot unit from the 1st EMODE (Special Forest Firefighting Unit) are traveling from Piraeus with five fire engines, while 33 more personnel and four EMODE teams are flying in from Elefsina.
According to public broadcaster ERT, fire commanders have begun strategic withdrawals from the most dangerous areas to protect personnel, shifting their focus to building firebreaks around vulnerable communities. Crews are expected to remain on-site throughout the night.
The national 112 emergency alert system issued repeated evacuation notices throughout Wednesday for the settlements of Achlia, Ferma, Agia Fotia, Galini, and later Koutsounari, urging residents and visitors to relocate toward Ierapetra. In some remote areas where road access was cut off, evacuees were rescued by boat from beaches.
Officials believe the fire began in a heavily forested zone between Agia Fotia and Skinokapsala, with hot, dry conditions and strong winds fueling its rapid expansion.
The wildfire in Crete comes amid a broader surge of extreme fires across southern Europe. Earlier this week, more than 50,000 people were evacuated in Turkey’s Izmir province, while at least six heat-related deaths have been reported in Spain, Italy, and France during a severe early-summer heatwave.
Greek authorities warn that fire danger remains “extremely high” in the coming days and are urging the public to stay alert, follow official instructions, and avoid any activities that could ignite new fires.
