4 hospitalized and nearly 1 500 evacuated as a major wildfire burns through Ierapetra in Crete, Greece

ByRishav Kothari

At least 4 people have been hospitalized and nearly 1 500 people have been evacuated as firefighters continued to engage a major wildfire on the Greek island of Crete on Thursday, July 3, 2025.

The wildfire in Crete broke out on Wednesday afternoon, July 2, in the forested area near the municipality of Ierapetra. Emergency services reported that gale force winds in the region have made containment difficult, with the fire’s front extending over 6 km (4 miles).

The rapidly expanding blaze is threatening homes, tourist accommodation, and critical infrastructure, including a fuel station in the area.

Authorities have ordered the mass evacuation of hotels, rental rooms and homes in the Ferma municipality, as the flames approached the area. The operation is underway with the support of the fire service, police and local volunteers.

So far, approximately 1 500 people have been evacuated from surrounding settlements and tourist areas and moved to Ierapetra. Around 200 evacuees are being sheltered in the town’s indoor sports arena.

“Three settlements were evacuated and more than 1 000 left their homes. Some were taken to health centers with respiratory problems,” Crete’s deputy civil protection governor, George Tsapakos, told public broadcaster ERT. ERT footage showed a water bomber flying over an area thick with grey smoke.

Smoke from the fire has stretched as far as Makry Gialos beach, 10 km (6 miles) from Achlia in Lasithi where firefighters were battling the blaze.

The main road near the settlement of Agia Fotia has been closed by police, who have urged residents and visitors to avoid all non-essential travel due to hazardous air quality, extreme heat, and falling ash.

In the settlement of Agia Fotia, homes and rental properties have been destroyed, and the area is experiencing a power outage, according to local reports. At least four elderly people have been taken to hospital with respiratory problems caused by smoke inhalation. All hospitals in Crete have been placed on alert by health authorities due to the fire.

“There is still no complete picture of how many houses have been burned”, adding that at the moment “we are waiting for the aerial means” said the Deputy Regional Governor of Lasithi.

At least 230 firefighters, along with 46 engines and 4 helicopters, have been deployed to contain the blaze. Firefighters fought to tame several resurgent blazes whipped up by winds, alongside reinforcements from Athens on Thursday fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said.

“There are wind gusts in the area, some measuring 9 on the Beaufort scale [75 to 88 km/h (47 to 54 mph)], which are triggering rekindling and hindering firefighting efforts,” Vathrakogiannis said.

Featured image credit: ERT

Rishav Kothari is Editor-in-Chief of The Watchers, where he runs the newsroom and covers earthquakes, volcanoes, severe weather and space weather.

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