Greece faced a challenging day on Wednesday as 29 wildfires erupted across the country. While most were quickly extinguished, five fires continued to burn, demanding the full attention of firefighting crews.
The most concerning blaze is in Rethymno, Crete, where the fire, initially reported around noon, has expanded aggressively, forming three distinct fronts.
Emergency alerts have been issued for nearby villages, with Agia Paraskevi being evacuated as a precautionary measure. Police are actively ensuring the safe evacuation of all residents, particularly the elderly.
Local authorities report that the fire has reached the outskirts of some houses and is rapidly consuming fields and olive groves.
The firefighting efforts in Rethymno involve a substantial deployment of resources, including 190 firefighters, 45 vehicles, five water-dropping helicopters, and two aircraft.
However, the fire's spread into ravines is making it particularly difficult to contain.