Massive wildfires raging on the Greek island of Crete have forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate, while two firefighters have lost their lives while trying to put out the flames.
The fire broke out in the Rethymno region and spread rapidly, favored by strong winds reaching up to 125 kilometers per hour. The flames have destroyed homes and farmland, while authorities say the fire remains out of control.
About 8,000 people were evacuated overnight but were later allowed to return to their homes. Temporary shelters were set up for residents and tourists. Hundreds of firefighters continue to battle the flames during one of the busiest periods of the tourist season in Crete.
Meanwhile, a third firefighter lost his life in mainland Greece, near the port city of Gythio, in the Peloponnese.
The situation remains critical in other European countries. In Spain, over a thousand people have been evacuated from fires in the provinces of Zamora and León, near the border with Portugal, while the fire in Ávila is considered the largest ever recorded in the country's history. In southwestern France, thousands of residents have begun to return to their homes after the situation in the Gironde region improved.
Europe is facing an unprecedented fire season, exacerbated by heatwaves and drought, while experts warn that climate change is favoring the spread and intensity of these fires.