Three Greek firefighters die as heat-driven wildfires rage

Three Greek firefighters were killed on July 29 and 30, 2026, as a severe heatwave and powerful winds fueled destructive wildfires across southern Europe, forcing thousands of evacuations and straining emergency services from France to Turkey. The fatalities included two firefighters trapped by flames while battling a blaze near the village of Krya Vrysi on Crete, and a third who died near Gythio in the Peloponnese region.

The fire on Crete, which broke out on July 29, remained out of control on July 30, with a front exceeding 15 kilometers. More than 220 firefighters, supported by dozens of vehicles, battled the flames, but gale-force winds prevented aircraft from conducting water drops. The winds, with gusts exceeding 100 kilometers per hour, pushed the fire toward coastal tourist areas, leading to the evacuation of approximately 8,000 people from the resort of Agia Galini. Many evacuees were sheltered in a local sports hall or relocated to hotels in safer parts of the island. Local officials described extensive damage to homes, agricultural land, and livestock facilities, though a full assessment was not yet possible.

The crisis extended beyond Greece. In southwestern France,...