Flames Engulf Greece, Thousands Evacuated as Tourists Flee Crete Coastal Town by Boat

A powerful wildfire, fanned by strong winds, has rapidly advanced toward the inhabited area of Agios Vasileios in central Greece. As a result, hundreds of people, mainly tourists, are fleeing the coastal town by sea.

Greek authorities say more than 200 people have already been brought to safety, while the evacuation by boat is expected to continue for around 100 others.

The fire broke out on Friday morning near Agios Vasileios, in the Viotia region, leaving approximately 500 people stranded, most of them tourists. Residents and visitors were initially instructed to move inland, but the fire’s rapid advance forced authorities to organize an evacuation by boat.

Meanwhile, firefighting crews are continuing efforts to bring a major fire on the island of Crete under control. The flames have consumed thousands of hectares and forced around 8,000 people to temporarily leave their homes and tourist areas.

Fires have also been reported on the islands of Paros, Andros and Kalymnos. Authorities have warned that high temperatures and strong winds are significantly hampering the work of emergency crews.

After several successive heatwaves, Greece is among the European countries battling major wildfires, as conditions favorable to the spread of the flames have developed. Scientists stress that human activity is behind most fires, but climate change is significantly increasing their frequency and intensity.

A critical situation has also been reported in Portugal and Spain. Near Valpaços, Portugal, hundreds of firefighters are battling a blaze that has destroyed around 15,000 hectares of land, including vineyards and olive groves, and injured five people.

In Spain’s Ávila region, the fire has stabilized. However, authorities have raised the alarm over the high risk of new outbreaks due to another heatwave.

Turkey is also continuing its battle against wildfires. The Agriculture Ministry says four fires remain active along the Mediterranean coast, including in areas near Antalya, while a total of 206 fires have been recorded across the country since Wednesday.