Two Greek Firefighters Lose Lives Battling Out-of-Control Crete Wildfire
Crete Wildfire Claims Lives and Threatens Villages
Firefighters Trapped in Rethymno Blaze
ATHENS, July 29 - Two Greek firefighters died on Wednesday after they were trapped in the blaze they were battling on the island of Crete, the Greek Fire Service said.
Origin and Spread of the Wildfire
Fire Breaks Out in Popular Tourist Region
The fire broke out earlier in the day in the Rethymno region of Crete, which is a popular tourism destination. It was fanned by strong winds and spread quickly near the village of Krya Vrisi in the centre of the island.
Firefighters' Fatal Encounter
Public broadcaster ERT said that the two firefighters became trapped in the blaze while they were moving from one fire front to another in their vehicle.
Impact on Local Communities
Evacuations and Local Response
"The fire front extends by 15 km (9.3 miles). Let's hope that we will save our lives and our homes," Sifis Vavourakis, president of Krya Vrysi village, told ERT, adding that the fire is out of control.
Authorities had told residents of three nearby villages, including Krya Vrysi to evacuate.
Wider Wildfire Threat in Southern Europe
EU Warnings and Ongoing Fires
Earlier on Wednesday, the head of the EU's emergency response centre said that Greece and Italy are set to face a heightened wildfire risk in the coming weeks, threatening further disasters even as wildfires continue to blaze in Spain and France.
Firefighting Efforts on Crete
Resources Deployed to Combat the Blaze
In a statement, Greece's firefighting department said 156 firefighters and volunteers were working to extinguish the blaze on Crete. Four firefighting aircraft and four helicopters have also been deployed to help the effort.
Reporting and Editing
(Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
