A fresh inferno is devastating the Greek island of Crete while Europe’s emergency response chief alerts about a potential continent-wide crisis.
Wildfires are raging uncontrollably in southern Rethymno, Crete, with firefighting aircraft grounded due to intense winds.
Maria Zuber, the head of the EU’s Emergency Response Co-ordination Centre, issued a stark warning that wildfires could soon engulf all of Europe. This comes amidst severe blazes affecting France, Spain, and Portugal.
Zuber highlighted the escalating risk, stating that wildfires are now moving towards Greece and Central Europe. The situation in Greece has worsened, with three firefighters losing their lives battling blazes in Crete and Mani, while new wildfires have spread to Paros and Lesvos islands.
In Rethymno, on Crete, the wildfires continue to burn out of control, with a recent outbreak near Krya Vrysi village leading to the evacuation of around 8,000 people.
George Tsambakos, the deputy regional governor of Crete, mentioned that strong winds have hindered firefighting aircraft deployment.
In Gironde, a massive fire encompassing 42,000 hectares remains stable following a calm night, with favorable weather conditions expected. Temperatures are forecasted to range between 27C and 34C, a notable drop from the scorching highs experienced previously.
Authorities are on high alert in various regions, taking precautionary measures and coordinating efforts to combat the escalating wildfire threats across Europe.
