Evacuation of Tourists in Crete Due to Forest Fire

In Crete, Greece, thousands of people, including many foreign tourists, have been evacuated due to a large forest fire raging in the eastern part of the island.

As reported by "European Truth", the source Ekathimerini indicates that the fire broke out yesterday between the settlements of Ferma, Achlia, and Agia Fotia. Firefighters are facing challenges due to strong winds that help the fire spread, and according to the fire service, the flames have split into three main fronts.

Fire service spokesperson Giannis Vatrakogiannis stated that significant resources are working in the area to combat numerous hotspots. "Wind gusts reaching 9 on the Beaufort scale are continuously creating new fire sources, making it very difficult for firefighters," he noted.

In total, 230 firefighters, 46 fire trucks, 10 helicopters, and other equipment, including drones, are deployed to assist. Police and medical services are also involved.

At the direction of the fire chief, special investigation teams are looking into the causes of the fire.

Georgios Tsarakis, head of the hotel association in Ierapetra and southeastern Crete, reported that around 5,000 people, mostly foreign tourists, have been evacuated from the area.

During the night, some vacationers were accommodated in nearby hotels, while others were placed in a gym in Ierapetra, which has been opened as a temporary shelter.

As of now, three individuals have been hospitalized in Ierapetra with respiratory issues, two with minor injuries, and one person with limited mobility.

The firefighting operation is ongoing, and additional forces from Athens are arriving in the region.

Due to the fire, many areas experienced power outages and mobile network issues throughout the night. It is currently unknown how many homes have been destroyed as a result of the fire.