Wildfire on Greek island of Crete forces evacuation of over 1,000

A large wildfire on Crete island has forced the evacuation of over 1,000 people and burned significant forest and olive groves. On Thursday, 230 firefighters, 46 engines, and helicopters battled the blaze near Ierapetra, which was fueled by strong winds.

Though some homes were damaged, there were no reported injuries. Evacuated residents and tourists were temporarily sheltered in an indoor stadium. Crete's deputy civil protection governor, George Tsapakos, noted that "three settlements were evacuated.” Firefighters struggled against rekindling flames and strong winds, which measured up to 9 on the Beaufort scale.