5000 people, mainly tourists, were supposed to be evacuated from the Lasiti region, on the Greek island of Crete, from a forest fire announced on Wednesday day and that this Thursday was still out of control.
According to the fire department, the fire exploded into three fronts and moves in the style of the wind. According to the Kathimerini newspaper, civil defense bodies warned that the situation was very complicated.
According to Georgos Zakis, a resident of the Association of the Hotel Irapetra and the south -east of Crete, about 5,000 people, mostly tourists who stayed in hotels in this area were evacuated.
About 230 firefighters with 46 vehicles and 13 pedestrian equipment operate in this area located in the Eastern Crete, while in total 10 helicopters and tank aircraft force water to keep the flame.
According to the deputy mayor of the IIEPERA municipality, Nektarios Papadakis, several houses that are scattered in the area were achieved by a flame. “We received great damage,” said Papadakis, who explains that fire also burned forest areas and olive crops.
So far, five coastal places had to be evacuated. Four people should have been hospitalized with respiratory problems, while in some cases the intervention of the authorities was necessary to save people who were trapped in their homes.
In the city of Ayia Photius, also evacuated, two people who were trapped on the beach were saved by a private vessel with the help of coast guard, reports SKAI Channel.
The fire announced on Wednesday afternoon near the coastal city of Azhlia and quickly spread along the coast raised by the wind.
Over the past days, Greek firefighters are fighting daily with dozens of fires controlled by strong winds and heat, which crossed the country last week and completely dried vegetation.
