Greek Coast Guard rescues 29 people from fire‑encircled beach in Rethymno

A large wildfire on the southern coast of Rethymno, Crete, forced evacuations as flames approached the Agios Pavlos shoreline. The Greek Coast Guard (Limeniko) launched a maritime rescue, coordinating with a fire‑service boat, a Frontex vessel and local fishing boats.

In the first wave 17 residents and visitors were lifted from the sea, and a second wave brought another 12 to safety, totaling 29 people evacuated to the nearby village of Agia Galini. Two Coast Guard patrol boats, a rescue craft and several private boats remained on standby as strong winds and dense smoke continued to hamper firefighting efforts. The fire had already spread across more than 15 km of terrain, prompting authorities to urge further evacuations and strict adherence to civil‑protection directives.