Three firefighters lost their lives on Wednesday while battling wildfires in Greece, as gale-force winds caused several new blazes to spread rapidly across the country. In a formal statement, the Fire Service confirmed the deaths, noting that the personnel “fell heroically in the line of duty, safeguarding the lives and property of citizens as well as the natural environment.” The leadership of the Fire Service expressed profound sorrow and offered sincere condolences to the families of the deceased.
The current emergency efforts involve 156 firefighters, supported by eight ground teams, 33 fire engines, four helicopters, and four aircraft conducting aerial firefighting operations. The blaze, which began near Rethymno around midday on Wednesday, is being exacerbated by wind gusts reaching force 7 on the Beaufort scale, creating extremely challenging conditions for ground crews. Local efforts are further bolstered by water tankers and heavy machinery provided by the Municipality of Agios Vasileios.
Emergency protocols have been activated, including the issuance of a 112 alert for the area. This has led to the evacuation of Agia Galini and the organized removal of foreign tourists. The Rethymno Hoteliers Association is currently assessing accommodation availability to house evacuees if required. Michalis Christoforakis, a local hotelier and member of the association, stated that while the fire was not visible from the settlement when evacuations began, residents and tourists followed instructions to move toward Tympaki without panic. He estimated that approximately 2,000 tourists are currently in Agia Galini.
Additional evacuations have been carried out in the settlements of Krya Vrysi, Saktouria, Melampes, Agios Georgios, Agios Pavlos, and Triopetra to ensure the safety of residents. In a related rescue operation, coastguard lifeboats and private vessels successfully rescued 29 people from the sea off the coast of Agios Pavlos.
Evangelia Glampedaki, the deputy mayor for culture of the Municipality of Agios Vasileios, described the situation as “out of control.” The municipality has cancelled all scheduled cultural events to prioritize resident safety and support the ongoing firefighting efforts. The Rethymno Arson Crime Investigation Unit has launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
