Athens, Jul 3 (EFE).- Some 5,000 people, mainly tourists, have had to be evacuated from the Lasithi region on the Greek island of Crete due to a wildfire raging out of control on Thursday.
The fire, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon, has spread across three fronts and is advancing, fueled by strong winds, the fire department said.
Civil protection authorities have warned that the situation is very difficult, local newspaper Kathimerini reported.
Some 5,000 people, mainly tourists staying in hotels in the area, have been evacuated, according to Giorgos Tzarakis, a member of the Hoteliers’ Association of Ierapetra and Southeast Crete.
Some 230 firefighters with 46 vehicles and 13 teams of hikers are operating in this area, located in eastern Crete, while a total of 10 helicopters and water tankers are deploying water to contain the flames.
The flames have reached several homes scattered throughout the area, Nektarios Papadakis, deputy mayor of the municipality of Ierapetra, said.
The official said that the fires had caused extensive damage and also burned forest areas and olive groves.
So far, five coastal towns have had to be evacuated.
Four people had to be hospitalized with respiratory problems, while in several cases, the authorities had to intervene to rescue people trapped in their homes.
In the town of Agia Fotia, also evacuated, two people trapped on a beach were rescued by a private boat with the help of the Coast Guard, local media outlet, SKAI, reported.
The fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon near the coastal town of Achlia and spread westward rapidly along the coast.
For the past few days, Greek firefighters have been battling dozens of wildfires every day, fueled by strong winds and a heat wave that swept through the country last week and completely dried out vegetation. EFE
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