Firefighters in Crete, Greece, are currently battling wildfire flare-ups that have led to the evacuation of additional villages in remote mountainous areas. The fire, which initially started on Wednesday, was contained temporarily after a night of reduced winds. However, the flames reignited with greater intensity after daybreak, despite the arrival of extra assistance from the mainland.
Over 200 firefighters, along with a 30-member special firefighting unit, are actively engaged in combating the blaze in the central Rethymno region of the island. To aid in the efforts, two water-dropping planes and two helicopters have been deployed to the area. The fire has already caused damage to olive groves, farmland, and irrigation networks, but fortunately, it does not currently pose an immediate threat to the popular holiday resorts along the coast.
As a precautionary measure, a village near the Agia Paraskevi area in central Crete has been evacuated, following multiple evacuation orders and cautions issued late Wednesday. The situation remains dynamic as firefighters continue their efforts to contain and extinguish the wildfire.