Greek firefighters battle deadly wildfires on Crete for a second day

World firefire serviceGreeceTop News Greek firefighters battle deadly wildfires on Crete for a second day Two Firefighters Killed Battling Wildfire In Crete Relevant News US strikes Iran as widening war engulfs more countries 30 July 2026 Greek firefighters battle deadly wildfires on Crete for a second day 30 July 2026 On this day: England beat Germany to win the World Cup in 1966 30 July 2026 newsroom 30 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Greek firefighters were battling deadly wildfires on the island of Crete for a second day on Thursday, as wildfires continue to spread across Europe following days of devastating blazes in Spain and France. On Wednesday, three Greek firefighters died battling blazes during high winds on Crete and on the mainland, and two more were lightly injured. Two firefighters died after becoming trapped in the Crete fire near the village of Krya Vrysi in the centre of the island while they were driving between fire fronts. Another died in a separate fire in the Peloponnese region. Hundreds of residents and tourists were evacuated on Wednesday from Krya Vrysi and other nearby villages by sea and by land in the centre of the island as high winds pushed the fire out of control near popular holiday spots. On Thursday, more than 200 firefighters with dozens of fire engines and water-carrying aircraft battled two wildfires on the island of Crete, where agricultural crops and olive groves were destroyed and warehouses and a few houses were damaged. “Unfortunately there is no improvement, and the latest information indicates that winds will increase later in the day,” said Giorgos Tsapakos, deputy regional governor for civil protection on Crete, on SKAI TV. “Aircraft were unable to operate this morning due to the strong winds,” he said. On Wednesday, the head of the EU’s emergency response centre said Greece and Italy were set to face a heightened wildfire risk in the coming weeks. Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent, has endured record-breaking heatwaves this year as human-driven climate change intensifies the heat and drought that enable wildfires to spread faster. Blazes have forced large-scale evacuations of people in Spain and France over the last few days, scorching through forests and killing wildlife. On Wednesday, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska warned of “three tough days” ahead, with strong winds and high temperatures, even as the major fire in the Avila and Madrid region stabilised, allowing authorities to lift some of the evacuation and shelter-in-place orders. (Reuters) Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News US strikes Iran as widening war engulfs more countries On this day: England beat Germany to win the World Cup in 1966 Cyprus municipalities more dependent on the state despite reform Central Bank flags Middle East and climate as key risks Demetriou leads in every scenario, DISY poll shows Trade, tourism and property most exposed to risks, says Central Bank GEMS Education plans €40m private school in Limassol Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.