Three Greek firefighters have lost their lives in the battle against the wildfires sweeping across Greece. Two were trapped in flames between two fire fronts on the island of Crete, while a third firefighter died in a separate incident in the Peloponnese region. In addition to the deceased, two other firefighters sustained minor injuries during the operations.
On Crete, fire crews have been fighting the blaze for two consecutive days, with more than 200 firefighters involved. The operation, which involves fighting two major fires on the island, has seen the deployment of dozens of vehicles and aerial tankers. The situation has been further complicated by strong winds, which have made the fire more difficult to control, particularly near popular tourist destinations.
The two deceased firefighters were located near the village of Kria Vrisi in the central part of the island. Their vehicles became trapped between the fire fronts, and the vehicle of the firefighter trapped in the flames was destroyed. In addition to the human casualties, the fires have caused significant material damage, with crops and olive groves burning.
The crisis on Crete has led to the mass evacuation of residents and tourists. On Wednesday, hundreds of people were evacuated from the village of Kria Vrisi and other nearby settlements. Evacuees were transported by sea and land to safer areas in central Crete.
Firefighting operations on Crete continued on Thursday, while the fire spread to other parts of Europe. Following the recent wildfires in Spain and France, the situation remains critical in several European countries.
