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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- Climate
- News.com.au
Thousands evacuated as Greek, Turkish wildfires rage
A wildfire fanned by gale-force winds on the southern Greek island of Crete has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists, officials said Thursday. An elderly man died in neighbouring Turkey, where wildfires forced the evacuation of six villages in the western province of Izmir. Some 30 kilometres (19 miles) east of Athens, another fire broke out near the port of Rafina on Thursday afternoon and had already burned five or six houses, one local mayor told ERT public television. Hot dry weather in Greece -- not unusual for this time of year -- has heightened the risk of a repeat of the summer wildfires that have hit the country in recent years. Turkey, although spared the recent heatwaves that gripped southern Europe, has battled the effects of a long-term drought likely brought on by climate change. On Crete, about 5,000 people were evacuated after a blaze that broke out Wednesday evening, the president of the regional hotels' association told AFP. Yorgos Tzarakis said about 3,000 tourists and 2,000 residents had been moved, mostly overnight, as a precaution from areas close to the Crete resort town of Ierapetra. Vice-prefect Yannis Androulakis told Greek broadcaster Mega officials had ordered the evacuations because water bomber planes could not reach the affected areas overnight. Those evacuated had been put up in hotels or gyms in Ierapetra, in the southeast, he added. Strong winds on three active fronts helped the fire to progress, said Androulakis. Fire service spokesman Vassilios Vathrakoyannis said around 170 firefighters, 17 firefighting planes, 48 fire engines and seven helicopters were fighting the blaze. Winds reached nine on the Beaufort scale, he added. - One dead in Turkey - In Turkey, two wildfires broke out near Izmir, Turkey's third city. In each case, three villages were evacuated. "An elderly, bedridden patient could not be saved," said Salih Uzun, a lawmaker in Izmir for the opposition CHP party, of the blaze close to Odemis. Izmir governor Suleyman Elban said the main problem had been wind speeds of up to 85 kilometres per hour (53 miles per hour) and their constant changes of direction. "So the intervention from both land and air is seriously challenging," he told reporters, adding that the flames had cut off the main highway from Izmir city. In both places, a total of "nine planes, 22 helicopters and 1,100 (fire trucks and other) vehicles are intensively fighting the fires". He said both fires in the province, as well as others over the weekend and since mastered, had been caused by power cables. Meteorologist Ismail Kucuk, citing forestry ministry figures, told AFP "90 percent of forest fires" were due to man-made causes. Power cables in particular posed a risk if not properly maintained, he added. - Uneven, arid terrain - The inaccessible terrain in Crete, Greece's largest island, has made it difficult for firefighters to tackle the blaze. The fire damaged houses and crops in fruit and vegetable greenhouses, media reports said. Like the rest of Crete, Ierapetra -- a seaside resort with a population of 23,000 -- takes in thousands of tourists in the summer. The risk of fires was "considerable" in July, the hottest month of the year in Greece, Vathrakoyannis said. The country recorded its hottest-ever summer in 2024, when 45,000 hectares (110,000 acres) of land burned, according to WWF Greece and the Athens National Observatory. In terms of surface area destroyed, 2023 was the worst on record. Nearly 175,000 hectares were obliterated and 20 people died during heatwaves when temperatures rose in places to 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit). Experts say human-driven climate change is causing more frequent and more intense wildfires and other natural disasters, and have warned Turkey to take measures to tackle the problem. hec-yap/jj/gv
CBS News
4 hours ago
- CBS News
Wildfires on Greek island Crete force thousands to evacuate
Greek authorities ordered thousands to evacuate from different parts of the southern island of Crete, one of the country's most popular tourist spots, where wildfires burned uncontrollably on Thursday. Firefighters were struggling to contain the blaze as gale-force winds fueled the flames. Officials said people were evacuated from hotels and residential homes overnight after the fire erupted Wednesday afternoon near Ierapetra, on the island's southern coast, and continued to burn. Giorgos Tzarakis, the head of the hoteliers' association of Ierapetra and southeastern Crete, told local media about 5,000 people in the area had been evacuated, with most of them being tourists who had traveled to the island from abroad. They were sheltering at a sports venue in Ierapetra, CBS News partner BBC News reported Residents of four villages in the area — Ferma, Katharades, Koutsounari and Kakia Skala — were ordered to evacuate. Meanwhile, Greece's fire service said the blaze had split into three active fronts at Achlia, Ferma and Skinokapsala, BBC News reported. BBC News also published video of the fire burning near the beach in Crete, sending a huge smoke plume into the air as beachgoers looked on. All hospitals in Crete were placed on alert as a precaution, according to the outlet. Fire burns in the Ahlia area near the port town of Ierapetra on the south coast of Crete island, Greece, late Wednesday, July 2, 2025. InTime News via AP By Thursday morning, 230 firefighters backed by 10 water-dropping helicopters were battling the flames advancing through forest and farmland. Gale force winds in the area, with gusts reaching about 50 miles per hour, "are constantly creating ... new outbreaks, making firefighting work very difficult," said fire department spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis. Two people were evacuated by boat overnight, while six private boats were on standby in case further evacuations by sea became necessary, the coast guard said. Nektarios Papadakis, a civil protection official at the regional authority, told The Associated Press overnight that tourists who had been evacuated from the area had been taken to an indoor basketball arena and hotels in other parts of the island. Several residents were treated for breathing difficulties, officials said, but there were no reports of serious injuries. The Fire Service and a civil protection agency issued mobile phone alerts for the evacuations and appealed to residents not to return to try to save their property. Firefighter uses a hose as the try to extinguish the blaze near the town of Ierapetra on the south coast of Crete island, Greece, Thursday July 3, 2025. InTime News via AP As fires crested ridgelines and edged toward residential areas overnight, the blaze sent clouds of ash into the sky, illuminated by the headlights of emergency vehicles and water trucks that lined the coastal road near the resorts of Ferma and Achlia on the southeast of Crete. Crete is one of Greece's most popular destinations for both foreign and domestic tourists. The risk of wildfires remained very high across Crete and parts of southern Greece Thursday, according to a daily bulletin issued by the Fire Service. Wildfires are frequent in the country during its hot, dry summers, and the fire department has already tackled dozens across Greece so far this year. In 2018, a massive fire swept through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, trapping people in their homes and on roads as they tried to flee. More than 100 died, including some who drowned while trying to swim away from the flames.
BreakingNews.ie
4 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Firefighters race to contain wildfires in Greece as thousands evacuated
Firefighters have been racing to contain wildfires that forced thousands to flee holiday resorts on the southern Greek island of Crete, while neighbouring Turkey grappled with its own deadly blazes that claimed at least one life. More than 5,000 tourists, hotel workers and residents were evacuated from the Ierapetra area along Crete's southern coast, authorities and hotel association officials said. A small number of people fled into the sea and were rescued by local fishermen and divers. Advertisement Ierapetra mayor Manolis Frangoulis said firefighters were working to prevent flare-ups before nightfall, when water-dropping helicopters are grounded. Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze on the south coast of Crete (InTime News via AP) 'The fire has receded a little, but if the wind hits the flames again, we'll have new fires and the catastrophe will continue,' he said. Several homes and businesses were damaged. Displaced tourists were relocated to other hotels or spent the night in an indoor basketball stadium. Separately on Thursday, authorities ordered precautionary evacuations due to a wildfire near the port of Rafina, about 18 miles east of Athens. Advertisement A house lies among scorched trees near the town of Ierapetra on Crete (InTime News via AP) In western Turkey, firefighters discovered the body of an 81-year-old man after extinguishing a blaze near a village, marking the first fatality in a series of wildfires that have forced thousands to flee. Officials said the man died from smoke inhalation near the town of Odemis. A total of 37 other villagers were safely evacuated by security forces and emergency teams. Meanwhile, hundreds of firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, were deployed to battle a wildfire near the Aegean coastal town of Cesme, a popular holiday destination about 120 miles west of Odemis. That fire, which began on Wednesday, forced the evacuation of three neighbourhoods and led to road closures. Television footage showed flames racing through dry vegetation on both sides of a road. Over the past week, Turkey has battled hundreds of wildfires fuelled by strong winds, extreme heat and low humidity. Now mostly under control, the blazes have damaged or destroyed about 200 homes. Advertisement A fire rages across a forest area in Cesme, near Izmir (Cengiz Malgir/Dia Photo via AP) Summer wildfires are common in both Greece and Turkey, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying conditions. Late Wednesday, Turkey's parliament adopted a landmark climate law targeting net-zero emissions by 2053. The legislation includes measures to establish a carbon market board to oversee efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The law comes at a time when Turkey is increasingly grappling with issues related to climate change, from searing heatwaves to prolonged droughts, experts say. 'As a Mediterranean country, Turkey is highly vulnerable to climate change,' said Gizem Koc, a lawyer with the UK-based environmental advocacy group ClientEarth. Advertisement 'The most striking vulnerability is the drought and water stress in some regions, but also there is increasing frequency of floods and other extreme weather events.'
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Crete declares state of emergency for wildfire zones as 5,000 holidaymakers flee & residents saved by boat from inferno
A STATE of emergency has been declared in Crete after the popular Greek island was ravaged by dangerous wildfires. Over 5,000 terrified holidaymakers have been fleeing the tourist hotspot across the past 24 hours as a huge inferno continues to rip through dozens of regions. 8 8 8 8 Many people have been made to escape to safety by boat ever since a major fire broke out on Tuesday near to Ierapetra. The flames rapidly spread and scorched acres of forests and olive groves helped by gale-force winds and dry conditions. Authorities said more than 1,000 residents in the path of the wildfires from at least four settlements were relocated to a temporary shelter inside a sports stadium in Ierapetra on Wednesday. The issues have continued to worsen in recent hours and left a state of emergency being declared earlier today. It applies to Makry Gialos in Ierapetra and Agios Nikolaos in Lassithi with Ferma also being evacuated. The declaration will remain in place for three months, until October 2, 2025, officials said. Over a dozen people have been hospitalised so far with breathing issues, officials confirmed. Homes have also been left decimated as the flames continue to cause havoc across Greece's largest island. As of this morning, the fires were raging on three separate fronts - Ferma, Achlia and Schinokapsala. They have been made worse due to heavy gusts reaching up to 72mph which have hampered efforts to contain the flames. Turkey travel chaos as airport shuts down due to raging wildfires ripping through hols hotspot with hundreds evacuated As early evening fell the Crete fire brigade said in a statement: "The hours ahead are expected to be difficult. "Right now there are 170 fire fighters, including eight teams of forest commandos, 48 trucks, 17 water-dumping planes and seven helicopters at the site. The Fire Service continues to warn of "very high" wildfire risk across Crete and southern Greece. One volunteer, who lives in a village close to Rafina, spoke of the "apocalyptic scenes". He said: "You put out one front and another erupts. "Homes have been burned to the ground, animals have died, and the smoke is suffocating." Britain's Foreign Office is yet to issue a travel warning for holidaymakers heading to Greece. They did announce in a statement however: "There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. "Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location. "Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly." 8 8 A criminal investigation has now been launched with an urgent inquiry into the cause of the blazes underway. It comes after wildfires in Turkey spread across holiday hotspots and caused havoc across the country. Wildfires erupted in popular areas Kuyucak and Doganbey fanned overnight by winds which reached 25-30mph. Four villages and two neighbourhoods were forced to evacuate, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said. And while those in Sakarya and Manisa are now largely under control, Izmir is still being ravaged by the flames. More than 50,000 people have been evacuated since the wildfires started. Adnan Menderes Airport was forced to temporarily close due to the raging wildfires, with some incoming planes made to divert to other airports. 8 8
Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Firefighters Race to Contain Wildfires in Greece as Thousands Evacuated, Elderly Man Dies in Turkey
Firefighters raced Thursday to contain wildfires that forced thousands to flee holiday resorts on the southern Greek island of Crete, while neighboring Turkey grappled with its own deadly blazes that claimed at least one life. More than 5,000 tourists, hotel workers, and residents were evacuated from the Ierapetra area along Crete's southern coast, authorities and hotel association officials said. A small number of people fled into the sea and were rescued by local fishermen and divers. Ierapetra Mayor Manolis Frangoulis said firefighters were working to prevent flare-ups before nightfall, when water-dropping helicopters are grounded. 'The fire has receded a little, but if the wind hits the flames again, we'll have new fires and the catastrophe will continue,' he said. Several homes and businesses were damaged. Volunteers found dead farm animals, some burned alive while chained inside sheds. Displaced tourists were relocated to other hotels or spent the night in an indoor basketball stadium. Separately Thursday, authorities ordered precautionary evacuations due to a wildfire near the port of Rafina, about 30 kilometers (18.5 miles) east of Athens. In western Turkey, firefighters discovered the body of an 81-year-old man after extinguishing a blaze near a village, marking the first fatality in a series of wildfires that have forced thousands to flee. Officials said the man died from smoke inhalation near the town of Odemis. A total of 37 other villagers were safely evacuated by security forces and emergency teams. Meanwhile, hundreds of firefighters supported by aircraft and helicopters were deployed to battle a wildfire near the Aegean coastal town of Cesme, a popular vacation destination about 190 kilometers (120 miles) west of Odemis. That fire, which began Wednesday, forced the evacuation of three neighborhoods and led to road closures. Television footage showed flames racing through dry vegetation on both sides of a highway. Over the past week, Turkey has battled hundreds of wildfires fueled by strong winds, extreme heat, and low humidity. Now mostly under control, the blazes have damaged or destroyed about 200 homes. Summer wildfires are common in both Greece and Turkey, where experts warn that climate change is intensifying conditions. Late Wednesday, Turkey's parliament adopted a landmark climate law targeting net-zero emissions by 2053. The legislation includes measures to establish a carbon market board to oversee efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The law comes at a time when Turkey is increasingly grappling with issues related to climate change, from searing heat waves to prolonged droughts, experts say. 'As a Mediterranean country, Turkey is highly vulnerable to climate change,' said Gizem Koc, a lawyer with the UK-based environmental advocacy group ClientEarth. 'The most striking vulnerability is the drought and water stress in some regions, but also there is increasing frequency of floods and other extreme weather events.'
