Wildfires on the Greek island of Crete have forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate, as strong winds hamper firefighting efforts for a second day. The blazes have killed three firefighters.

Several villages in the Rethymno region and the popular resort town of Agia Galini on the southern coast were evacuated. Deputy regional governor Maria Lioni said approximately 8,000 people have been displaced.

Two firefighters died on Crete after being trapped on a mountain road and losing their bearings in thick smoke. A third firefighter collapsed and died while battling a separate blaze near Gytheio on the Peloponnese peninsula.

Wind speeds reached up to 102 km/h (63 mph), severely limiting the use of aircraft for water drops. Emergency services reported no improvement and expected winds to strengthen later in the day.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid tribute to the fallen firefighters, acknowledging the worsening wildfire risk due to climate change. Greece joins France and Spain in facing summer blazes.

In France, authorities allowed 84,000 evacuees to return home as fires near Bordeaux subsided with cooler temperatures and rain. In Spain, wildfires threatening Madrid were also abating.

Source: www.dw.com