Massive wildfire rages across Greek hols hotspot Crete as 1…...

Multiple people were treated for breathing difficulties as tourists were rushed to emergency shelters

Ethan SinghJuliana Cruz Lima

Raging wildfires spread across Greek island holiday hotspot as hotels and homes are 'evacuated'

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RAGING wildfires have spread across a Greek holiday hotspot with 1,500 people evacuated from their homes and hotels to escape the inferno.

The night sky turned orange as the burning blazes left a trail of destruction on the popular island of Crete.

Homes in Crete burning in a wildfire at night.
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Some 1,500 people have been evacuated as raging wildfires spread across CreteCredit: X
Firefighters at night near a firetruck.
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Firefighters scrambled to contain the blazesCredit: Reuters
Wildfire burning at night near Ierapetra, Crete.
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Fire burns in the Ahlia area near the port town of IerapetraCredit: AP
Tourists evacuating a hotel during a wildfire at night.
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Tourists evacuate a hotel during the wildfireCredit: EPA
Evacuations were ordered at three sites outside the port of Ierapetra on the island’s south coast, authorities said.

More than 150 firefighters were operating in the area, while water-dropping planes and helicopters remained grounded overnight.

Six people have been taken to hospital for breathing problems, officials confirmed.

Thick smoke was seen rising into the night sky as the wildfires continued to spread towards residential areas.

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Despite the size of the blaze there have been no immediate reports of serious injuries, officials said.

Homes were reportedly damaged as flames swept through hillside forests, fanned by strong winds.

Crete's wildfires are now raging on three separate fronts - Ferma, Achlia and Schinokapsala - with gusts of up to 72mph hampering efforts to contain the flames.

Emergency reinforcements, including five fire engines and crews, arrived by boat early on Thursday after a C-130 military plane airlifted additional teams from Athens shortly after midnight.

Over 1,500 people have now been evacuated, authorities confirmed.

Emergency alerts were issued throughout the day for villages including Agia Fotia, Galini, Ferma and Koutsounari.

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Map of Crete showing wildfire locations and evacuated areas.
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Some were rescued from beaches by boat as the flames pushed down to the shoreline, with thick smoke drifting across the sea near Makrys Gialos.

Tourists were removed from hotels and taken to temporary shelters - including an indoor basketball arena in Ierapetra - as flames edged dangerously close to coastal resorts.

“The tourists who were moved out are all okay,” said civil protection official Nektarios Papadakis.

“They have been taken to an indoor basketball arena and hotels in other regions of the island.”

The fire now spans more than six kilometres, with some homes, accommodation and greenhouses already damaged in Ferma and Agia Fotia.

Emergency workers and volunteers continued to build fire breaks overnight using hand tools, heavy machinery and graders in an effort to stop the flames reaching more built-up areas.

Meanwhile, firefighters remain in a race against time ahead of more strong winds forecast through Thursday afternoon.

The Fire Service continues to warn of "very high" wildfire risk across Crete and southern Greece.

Firefighters and volunteers battling a large wildfire at night.
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Firefighters and volunteers work at the scene of a wildfire in Ierapetra on the Greek island of CreteCredit: EPA
Wildfire at night near a beach in Crete.
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Homes were reportedly damaged as flames swept through hillside forests, fanned by strong windsCredit: EPA
Wildfire burning near Ierapetra, Crete.
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Flames rise as a wildfire burns near Ierapetra in CreteCredit: Reuters
It comes after wildfires in Turkey spread across holiday hotspots and caused havoc across the country.

Wildfires erupted in popular areas Kuyucak and Doganbey fanned overnight by winds which reached 25-30mph.

Four villages and two neighbourhoods were forced to evacuate, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said.

And while those in Sakarya and Manisa are now largely under control, Izmir is still being ravaged by the flames.

More than 50,000 people have been evacuated since the wildfires started.

Massive wildfire rages across Greek hols hotspot Crete as 1,500 people evacuated from hotels & homes

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