On Thursday, July 3rd, wildfires broke out on the Greek island of Crete, engulfing forests and olive groves, forcing thousands of people to evacuate. The capital city, Athens, also experienced fires in its suburbs, threatening the residences of local residents.
Local reports indicated that strong winds and dry weather created a hazardous environment akin to a “powder keg,” making it challenging for Greek authorities to control the fires.
In the afternoon of Thursday, a new fire erupted in Pikermi, an eastern suburb of Athens, posing a threat to numerous homes and prompting the evacuation of three residential areas, with over 100 firefighters engaged in the firefighting efforts.
Thick smoke blanketed areas near the Athens International Airport and the capital’s second-largest port, Rafina. The main road from Pikermi to Athens was closed as a result.
Greek authorities warned that the country would face a high risk of wildfires on Friday as well.
Authorities reported that around 230 firefighters, 46 fire engines, and 10 helicopters were dispatched to Crete to contain the fires. The massive fire broke out near the southeastern coast of Ierapetra, the largest island in Greece, on Wednesday.
According to Greek state broadcaster ERT, authorities declared a state of emergency in the jurisdiction of Ierapetra on Thursday.
Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson for the fire department, stated that the fires spread to previously evacuated homes and hotels, with strong winds causing the flames to reignite continually, significantly impeding firefighting efforts.
Authorities announced that over a thousand residents and tourists from at least four residential areas were evacuated. Most sought refuge in an indoor sports arena in Ierapetra, while others were transferred to hotels in the northern region or departed Crete by boat.
“This is terrifying!” exclaimed 26-year-old Danish tourist Mikkel Sallin, who was evacuated to another hotel. “We are grateful to be here now and feel safe.”
Local media reported that some homes were damaged, and individuals with respiratory issues were admitted to hospitals.
In the southeastern part of Crete, approximately 5,000 tourists were evacuated on a large scale. George Tzarakis, president of the local hotelier association, expressed concerns to Reuters about the impact of the fires on future travel bookings. Tourism is a crucial source of income for this popular tourism island.
Greece, along with other Mediterranean countries, is situated in what scientists call a “wildfire hotspot,” where wildfires are common during the hot and dry summer months.
Across Europe, a summer heatwave is currently underway, resulting in at least 8 fatalities. Scientists note that this early summer heatwave, caused in large part by warmer seas creating a “heat dome” trapping hot air masses, has led to temperature spikes of up to 10 degrees Celsius in some regions.
Meanwhile, on the western coast of Turkey, wildfires ravaged the Cesme and Odemis regions in Izmir province for a second consecutive day, causing thousands to flee their homes. Videos from the area showed that the wind hindered firefighting efforts, with flames nearing Odemis in Cesme and thick smoke engulfing the mountains.
In Italy, the Ministry of Health issued red-level heat alerts for 18 cities, with temperatures expected to soar above 38 degrees Celsius (approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit). Italian Minister of Energy Gilberto Pichetto Fratin warned of potential temporary power outages due to increased electricity demand from air conditioning usage.
In Switzerland, the power company Axpo temporarily shut down two reactor units at the Beznau nuclear power plant due to high river water temperatures.
(This article is based on relevant reports from Reuters.)