Wildfires put Greece under pressure: Evacuations on Crete and in other regions

Rethymno – 31 July 2026: Smoke hangs over parts of Greece as emergency crews battle several forest and brush fires. According to a report by Franceinfo, several thousand people had to leave their homes or accommodations as a precaution in various areas, including Crete, the Cyclades and the outskirts of Athens. The situation remained particularly tense on the Mediterranean island of Crete.

In the Rethymno district in the south of the island, firefighters were deployed to battle a blaze that was spreading under difficult conditions. The Greek fire service received reinforcements from Athens. According to information from the Associated Press news agency, around 90 personnel were deployed on the ground; two firefighting aircraft and five helicopters supported the operation from the air.

The operation on Crete has also claimed lives. According to the Greek fire service, as reported by AP, two firefighters died while fighting the blaze in the Rethymno region on Wednesday, 29 July. Details about the circumstances of their deaths were not initially released. Authorities also did not comment on possible causes of the fire.

For residents and holidaymakers, the warnings primarily meant: respond quickly, follow instructions and use safe routes. According to AP, the coast guard had two patrol boats as well as private vessels on standby. This was intended to enable evacuation by sea in an emergency. It was not initially disclosed whether, or to what extent, this option actually had to be used.

By Friday evening, authorities had not yet provided a complete breakdown of the number of people affected and the exact distribution of evacuations. Franceinfo reported that several thousand people had been brought to safety because of the fires. Reliable, consistent information for all the regions mentioned was not yet available on destroyed homes, injuries outside the fire service or the size of the burned areas.

Greece regularly faces an elevated wildfire risk during the summer months. The Greek Civil Protection Authority publishes daily risk maps and coordinates warnings through the 112 emergency alert system. The French Foreign Ministry advises travelers to follow local announcements and official warnings and to keep their mobile phone’s location function activated.

The fires are hitting the country during a particularly busy travel period. On Crete, in the Cyclades and around Athens, densely populated towns, holiday accommodation and dry vegetation areas are often close together. For emergency crews, the immediate task remains to contain the fire fronts and keep evacuation routes open. The two deaths in Rethymno lend the operation a tragic gravity.