Where are the wildfires in Crete? Map shows areas hit by fires as thousands evacuated from Rethymno

THOUSANDS of locals and British holidaymakers have been evacuated from Crete after deadly wildfires swept through the popular Greek hotspot. At least three emergency responders have lost their lives during the crisis across Greece, including two firefighters who became trapped in their vehicle near the mountain village of Krya Vrysi in Crete. Flames fanned by gale-force winds have spread across a 15-kilometre front Credit: Getty At least three emergency responders have lost their lives during the crisis across Greece Credit: Getty Flames fanned by gale-force winds have spread across a 15-kilometre front on the island at the peak of the summer holiday season. Around 8,000 people were ordered to move to safety as flames closed in on southern resort villages, destroying homes, farms, and livestock in their path. Sign up for the Travel newsletter Thank you! The crisis comes as severe heatwaves spark wildfires across Southern Europe and parts of the UK, with firefighters battling blazes from Spain and Turkey to Suffolk. Where are the wildfires in Crete? The primary fire zone in Crete is located along the island’s southern coast in the Rethymno region, specifically within the Agios Vasileios municipality. Villages and coastal areas hit by emergency evacuation alerts include: Krya Vrysi, Melambes, and Sachtouria Agios Pavlos, Triopetra, and Agia Paraskevi Orne and Ligres The primary fire zone is located along the island’s southern coast More than 200 firefighters, supported by 53 fire engines, have been tackling the south-coast blazes. Nearby resort areas such as Agia Galini were evacuated as a precaution before conditions stabilised enough for some tourists to return. Most read in News Travel Is it safe to travel to Crete? It remains safe to travel to the vast majority of Crete. The island’s main transport hubs – including Heraklion Airport and Chania Airport – remain open and operating normally, outside the fire zone. Popular northern holiday destinations, including Rethymno’s historic Old Town, Chania, Heraklion, Elounda, and Agios Nikolaos, currently remain unaffected and open for business. If you are due to travel, tour operators advise checking the exact location of your accommodation. Anyone staying near the active southern fire zone should contact their hotel or package provider before travelling, follow official 112 emergency text alerts, and ensure travel insurance covers natural disaster disruptions. Holidaymakers on the island are urged to download emergency alert apps, keep mobile devices charged, and strictly observe local fire bans. How did the fires start? Specialist arson investigation teams from the Greek Fire Service have launched formal inquiries into the exact ignition points of the Rethymno fires. While investigations are ongoing, extreme heat and weather conditions created the perfect storm for rapid ignition. A prolonged summer heatwave pushed temperatures above 40C, thoroughly drying out low vegetation, pine forests, and olive groves across the island. Strong gusting winds reaching up to 102 km/h (7 on the Beaufort scale) whipped minor ignitions into runaway blazes within minutes. Authorities across southern Europe have repeatedly warned that even minor human carelessness – like discarded glass, outdoor barbecues, or unextinguished cigarettes – can instantly trigger a major blaze in these dry conditions. What is the forecast for Crete? The weather outlook for Crete remains challenging, with forecasters predicting high temperatures to persist near or above 40C across the Aegean region. But the primary hurdle for emergency crews has been unpredictable wind. Violent, changing gusts have forced water-dropping planes and heavy helicopters to temporarily ground operations due to turbulence. Fire crews are reliant on wind speeds dropping in the coming days. Lower winds wills allow aerial firefighting squadrons to safely scoop seawater and drop targeted payloads on hot spots in Crete’s steep mountain terrain. While ground teams continue to build containment lines, civil protection authorities maintain a high wildfire alert across Crete and wider Greece. Comment now