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Crete: Wildfire on Greek island prompts evacuations

Farah Bahgat with AP, Reuters, dpa
July 3, 2025

More than 1,500 residents and tourists were evacuated in Crete, as strong winds further fanned the flames. Firefighters are still trying to contain the blaze.

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People stand with their luggage as smoke billows from a wildfire, in Ferma, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 2, 2025 in this still image from video obtained from social media
The wildfire in Crete, one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations, started Wednesday afternoonImage: @d_morice/Instagram/REUTERS

Firefighters battled through the night and into Thursday morning against a rapidly spreading forest fire on Greece's largest island, Crete.

The firefighting service said 270 firefighters, 10 helicopters and drones were deployed to fight the fire near the city of Ierapetra.

The wildfire triggered the evacuation of residents and tourists from the island's south coast. 

Some people were treated for breathing difficulties, but there were no immediate reports of more serious injuries. 

Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire near Ierapetra, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 3, 2025
The blaze sent clouds of ash into the night sky, as emergency vehicles and water trucks lined the coastal road near the resorts of Ferma and AchliaImage: Stefanos Rapanis/REUTERS

What do we know about the evacuations?

Authorities ordered evacuations of the popular resort of Achlia and three other settlements in the wider Crete area. 

The Fire Service and a civil protection agency issued localized mobile phone alerts for the evacuations and asked residents not to return to their properties.

At least 1,500 people were evacuated and taken to other hotels and a sports hall, the Crete civil defense said.

What is the state of the Crete wildfire?

The blaze broke out Wednesday afternoon and strong winds rekindled the flames on hillside forests, the Greek fire brigade service said.

Flames rise as a wildfire burns near Ierapetra, on the island of Crete, Greece, July 2, 2025
The fires lit up the night sky, cresting ridgelines and edging toward residential areasImage: Stefanos Rapanis/REUTERS

At night, water-dropping planes and helicopters were grounded overnight, while firefighters were trying to stymie the fire on the hills to slow its advance.

"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 Associated Press (AP) news agency.

Greece is often hit by wildfires during the hot and dry summers. The latest fire comes as Europe faces a historic heat wave. 

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher