Thousands of people have been evacuated from the Greek island of Crete as fast-moving wildfires, fueled by powerful winds, continue to threaten tourist resorts and nearby villages, underscoring the growing wildfire crisis affecting several European countries.
Approximately 8,000 residents and tourists were evacuated overnight from the Rethymno region after wind gusts reached speeds of up to 125 km/h, significantly accelerating the spread of the flames. The evacuations followed the deaths of three firefighters on the island on Wednesday.
Greece is among several European nations battling destructive wildfires and prolonged drought as the continent continues to experience extreme temperatures.
Meteorologists have warned that weather conditions favorable to wildfire outbreaks are expected to expand into Central Europe later this week, with Greece and Türkiye remaining among the countries at greatest risk.
Meanwhile, a major wildfire continues to spread across northeastern Portugal, where more than 800 firefighters are battling the blaze on two fronts. Local media reported that several homes in affected villages have been destroyed.
Spain is also facing a challenging situation. Around 600 people have been evacuated near the Portuguese border due to a wildfire in the province of Zamora. However, authorities said fires near Madrid have been brought under control, allowing thousands of residents to return to their homes.
In Türkiye, hundreds of homes have been evacuated, although authorities said that most wildfire outbreaks have now been brought under control.
In France, despite temperatures reaching as high as 41°C over the past two days, officials reported that wildfires in the Gironde region have remained contained for a third consecutive day.
The wave of wildfires comes as Europe continues to face increasingly severe heatwaves and prolonged dry conditions, raising concerns about the escalating impact of climate-related extreme weather across the continent.
