2 firefighters die in a wildfire on the southern Greek island of Crete
Strong winds hampered crews as about 125 firefighters and aircraft battled the blaze, the fire department said.
- Two firefighters died on Wednesday in the Rethymno region of Crete after becoming trapped while battling a rapidly spreading wildfire, the Greek Fire Service said. The circumstances of their deaths were not immediately clear.
- About 125 firefighters were tackling the blaze, which broke out Wednesday afternoon in the region. Strong winds fanned the fire, hampering containment efforts as the flames spread quickly near the village of Krya Vrisi.
- Four helicopters and four water-dropping planes were deployed to combat the flames across the 15 km fire front. These aircraft provided critical aerial support alongside ground crews battling the blaze.
- The Greek Fire Service issued a statement honoring the firefighters, saying they "fell heroically in the line of duty to protect the lives and property of citizens and the natural environment." The deaths underscore risks faced by crews.
- Across Europe, extreme heat and widespread dryness have intensified wildfires this year. The European Union's Copernicus climate service reports the continent is warming at more than twice the global average, threatening further disasters.
47 Articles
47 Articles
Two firefighters killed as wildfires sweep Crete
Two firefighters died on Wednesday after becoming trapped while battling a wildfire near Rethymno, Crete, as fires and extreme heat continued to affect parts of southern Europe. Greek authorities ordered the evacuation of several villages as gale force winds drove the blaze across the island. Witnesses said multiple fires broke out before merging into a […]
Two firefighters died on Wednesday while participating in the extinction of a large forest fire declared on the Greek island of Crete. The deceased were trapped when the tanker they were travelling in was hit by flames during the intervention in the area of Kria Vrisi, near the city of Réthymno, in the northwest of the island. The fire started at noon in a wooded area near the town of Kria Vrisi and spread rapidly due to extreme weather conditio…
Forest fires continue to have a strong grip on southern Europe. In Turkey, some evacuated people lost their homes, in Crete, the flames surrounded a fire vehicle. Two forces died.
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