LARGE FIRE NEAR ATHENS, THREE AREAS EVACUATED

Strong wind gusts, reaching up to 80 km/h, are constantly creating new spot fires and flare-ups, making the work of firefighters extremely challenging.

Flames are threatening homes as a large fire rages in Rafina, a port town just east of Athens. Authorities report that strong winds are fueling the blaze. Images shared by Greek media show dense smoke clouds over eastern Athens, visible even from the city center. Police have confirmed that three locations have been evacuated. Firefighting helicopters, hundreds of firefighters, and volunteers have been mobilized to combat the flames. A ferry carrying passengers and cars, originally bound for Rafina port, was forced to return to Euboea, the Greek Coast Guard announced. Two other vessels had to dock at a port further south.

Firefighters from Athens Join Efforts in Crete

Meanwhile, a fire continues to spread on the southeastern coast of the Greek island of Crete. The blaze, which erupted yesterday afternoon in a wooded area near hotels, vacation homes, and residential properties, has led to mass evacuations. Residents and visitors in the areas of Lasithi, Agia Fotia, and Galini, within the municipality of Ferma, have been moved to safety after gale-force winds (Beaufort force 9, approximately 80 km/h) caused the flames to spread rapidly southwards. "Wind gusts reaching 9 Beaufort are constantly creating new spot fires and flare-ups, making the firefighters' work difficult," authorities stated, according to Kathimerini.

Approximately 5,000 people, primarily foreign visitors, have been evacuated from villages, according to Giorgos Tzarakis, president of the Hotel Association of Ierapetra and Southeast Crete. However, Giorgos Tsapakos, deputy regional director of Civil Protection for Crete, states that "over 1,500 residents have abandoned their homes." Local media outlet Nea Kriti reports that many evacuees are being housed in hotels in northern Crete, such as Malia and Hersonissos. The fire front now extends for at least six kilometers.

Dense smoke has engulfed a wide area, reducing visibility to near zero in some places. The smoke has spread as far as Makry Gialos beach, 10 kilometers from Achlia in Lasithi. Emergency medical services are on high alert, with eight ambulances operating. So far, they have transported three individuals with respiratory problems, two with minor injuries, and one with mobility issues to the Ierapetra General Hospital.

Firefighters have also arrived from Athens. "Extinguishing operations with aerial means have begun," stated Greek fire department spokesman Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, "with 230 firefighters, 46 vehicles, and 10 helicopters engaged."

The main road near the settlement of Agia Fotia has been closed by police, who have urged residents and visitors to avoid all non-essential travel due to dangerous air quality, extreme heat, and falling ash. In Agia Fotia, homes and rental properties have been destroyed, and the area is without power, according to local sources. At least four elderly individuals have been hospitalized with respiratory problems caused by smoke inhalation. As a precautionary measure, health authorities have put all hospitals in Crete on high alert.

No Italians Reported in Difficulty

Currently, no Italian citizens are reported to be in difficulty due to the fire affecting eastern Crete. Informed sources, quoted by Ansa, stated that only one Italian woman was evacuated yesterday and then left by her own means, with no other Italian nationals involved in the evacuations.

Eyewitness Accounts

"My aunt and uncle live in that area, in Koutsounari. Yesterday at 4:00 PM, the flames flared up, fueled by the hot wind and the dry vegetation. They immediately fled to the beach, and at 8:00 PM, there was an evacuation order. They were scared, but now the situation seems to be improving." This account of the sixty-something couple from Rome was given by their niece Francesca, who, like her aunt and uncle, has lived in Crete for over ten years.

"At 2:00 AM, we saw the fire, there was a lot of smoke, we got scared and fled, leaving the house with only two bags": this is the testimony of a hotel employee in the Ierapetra area of Crete, affected by the fires and evacuated last night. "It's terrible to see the fire approaching because you feel your life is in danger," she added.

Dramatic Situation in Spain

At least 102 people have died in Spain during the first extreme heatwave of the year, which began last Saturday. This is according to the country's Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo). Alert levels remain high for suffocating heat in 12 of Spain's 17 regions, with warnings for extreme temperatures and locally very strong thunderstorms, as reported by the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) on its website. In the first six months of the year, the MoMo system has recorded at least 380 deaths attributable to high temperatures in Spain.