Evacuation orders as wildfires spread to holiday island visited by 780,000 Brits
An evacuation order has been issued for part of Crete, which has become the latest Greek island to be hit by wildfires.
An alarm was raised on Thursday morning at the Heraklion Fire Department, as a fire broke out in a rural area near Tsigouna in the municipality of Phaistos, Ellada 24 reports. Around 20 fire trucks and 54 firefighters, as well as two helicopters, are battling to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading to surrounding areas.
Residents of the Tsigouna area of the Phaistos municipality were first told to be alert and follow the instructions of the authorities, before an evacuation order was issued. Then, another 112 emergency alert was sent, calling for evacuation.
The fires are currently burning in the south of the island, in an area roughly 20 miles from the capital, Heraklion. Crete covers 3,260 square miles of landmass (enough to make it the fifth-largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily, Sardinia, Cyprus, and Corsica) and is beloved by Brits. Around 780,000 UK passport holders visit the Greek island each year.
Crete is not the only Greek island hit by wildfires so far this year, as scorching hot temperatures ignite tinderbox-dry regions.
A wildfire has been raging uncontrollably all week on the eastern Aegean island of Chios, with hundreds of firefighters and aircraft battling the blaze, and multiple evacuation orders issued.
The fire has engulfed vast swathes of forest and farmland on the island, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency. Firefighting reinforcements have been dispatched from Athens, Thessaloniki in the north, and the neighbouring island of Lesbos.
Anastasia, a Hellenic Red Cross volunteer who has been battling the fires on Chios, told The Mirror: "The situation is critical, as strong winds are making firefighting efforts more difficult and continue to spread the flames across several areas.
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"I decided to come to Chios as a volunteer because I wanted to contribute directly to the response to this serious natural disaster affecting the island and its local communities. My experience so far has been intense and deeply moving — witnessing firsthand the hard work and dedication of the firefighters and Red Cross volunteers, and the power of human solidarity.
2areas have been evacuated, mainly villages close to the fire fronts, such as the Mastichochoria. Some tourists on the island have also been affected and relocated to safe locations, but the majority of evacuations concern permanent residents."
It was reported yesterday that a Georgian woman has been accused of accidentally igniting one of several wildfires on Chios. She is due to appear in court today to face charges of unintentional arson. Greek fire brigade officials said the woman, employed as a housekeeper on Chios, had "confessed" to triggering the blaze when she negligently discarded a cigarette.
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