Crete: Wildfire on Greek island prompts evacuations

Firefighters battled through the night early Thursday against a rapidly spreading forest fire in Greece's largest island, Crete. 

The wildfire triggered the evacuation of residents and tourists from the island's south coast. 

Some people were treated for breathing difficulties, but there were no immediate reports of more serious injuries.  

Crete settlements evacuated

Authorities ordered evacuations of the popular resort of Achlia and three other settlements in the wider Crete area. 

The blaze sent clouds of ash into the night sky, as emergency vehicles and water trucks lined the coastal road near the resorts of Ferma and AchliaImage: Stefanos Rapanis/REUTERS

The Fire Service and a civil protection agency issued localized mobile phone alerts for the evacuations and asked residents not to return to their properties.

At least 1,500 people were reportedly evacuated and taken to temporary shelters. 

What we know about the Crete wildfire 

The blaze broke out Wednesday afternoon and strong winds rekindled the flames on hillside forests, the Greek fire brigade service said.

The fires lit up the night sky, cresting ridgelines and edging toward residential areasImage: Stefanos Rapanis/REUTERS

Water-dropping planes and helicopters were grounded overnight, while more than 150 firefighters were trying to break up the fire on the hills to slow its advance.

"It's a very difficult situation. The fire is very hard to contain. Right now, they cannot contain it," Nektarios Papadakis, a civil protection official at the regional authority, told the Associated Press (AP) news agency.

Greece is often hit by wildfires during the hot and dry summers. The latest fire comes as Europe faces a historic heat wave. 

Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher