Irapetra, Crete near Blaze Rage

A major wildfire in Greece continues to burn out of control in Eastern Crete, after breaking up in the rugged forest area near the municipality of Irapatra on Wednesday afternoon.

Surrounded by the Gail-Force winds that reach eight on the Buft scale, the flames have spread rapidly south, threatened houses, tourism housing and significant infrastructure including a fuel station.

According to emergency services, the fire front now extends to at least 6 km, which makes the containing difficult.

The thick smoke surrounded the wider area, which reduced visibility.

Smoke, 10 km from Achalia in Lasithi, extended to Makeri Gialos Beach, where firefightings were struggling with a blast.

The main road near the disposal of Agia Photia has been closed by the police, who urged residents and visitors to avoid all non-essential travels due to dangerous air quality, excessive heat and falling ash.

At the disposal of Agia Fotia, homes and rental properties have been destroyed, and according to local reports, the area is experiencing a power outage. At least four elders have been rushed to the hospital with respiratory problems due to inhalation of smoke.

As a precaution, all the hospitals of Crete have been alerted by health officials.

Officials have also ordered a large -scale withdrawal of hotels, rented rooms and houses in Ferma municipality, as flames reach the area. Operation is going on with the support of fire service, police and local volunteers.

So far, about 1,500 people have been extracted from surrounding settlements and tourism areas and have moved to Erapatra. About 200 withdrawal is being given shelter in the city’s indoor sports area.

The fire fighting response has been greatly reinforced. By Wednesday night, 155 firefighting, eight special foot teams and 38 fire engines are working on the ground. Four helicopters took out water drops by night. Local municipalities have also deployed water tankers and heavy machinery.

There are additional force routes. Seventeen firefighters from 1Mode (Special Forest Firefighting Unit) and a foot team is traveling from Pirius from Perius, along with five fire engines, while 33 firefighting and four additional amode teams are coming from the air from Elphicina.

According to the Public Broadcaster ERT, the Fire Service has ordered a strategic return from the fire front to protect the personnel and preferred the construction of firebrak around the risky settlements. The crew is expected to stay on the ground overnight.

Emergency alerts were issued throughout the day through 112 public warning systems, calling Achalia, Ferma, Agia Photia, Galini and later to withdraw from Koutsounari, instructing residents and tourists to go towards IraPetra.

Some individuals who were cut from the road were reportedly evacuated from local beaches.

The fire is believed to be started between the fire, Agia Photia and Skinokapsla, burning through dense, highly flammable forest, with steep areas, dry conditions and strong winds.

Earlier this week, more than 50,000 people in Türkiye were extracted due to wildfires in Western province of Isamir.

At least six heat -related deaths in Europe are reported as continent reels under an early summer heatwave. The latest recorded deadly was in Spain and Italy. There were casualties in France too.