Wildfire Ravages Southern Crete, Evacuates Thousands

A large forest and brush fire spread across southern Crete in late July 2026, creating a fire front about 15 km long near the port city of Rethymno. The blaze destroyed agricultural land, olive groves, houses and livestock pens, and forced the evacuation of several villages.

Two firefighters died while battling the flames. According to the island’s vice‑governor Maria Lioni, roughly 8,000 residents of the coastal village Agia Galini were evacuated, many of them tourists who were later taken off the beach by boat. By the end of July, most evacuees were allowed to return as the fire was brought under control.

Hundreds of fire crews, including aerial water‑dropping helicopters, worked to contain the blaze, which was intensified by the hot summer temperatures that have heightened fire risk across Greece.