Greece wildfires trigger state of emergency, 5,000 evacuated

Emergency alerts were sounded on Wednesday through Greece’s public warning system after a fire broke out near the village of Achlia. The flames rapidly spread across forested areas, with active fronts now reported in Achlia, Ferma, and Skinokapsala.

More than 5,000 people had been evacuated from homes and tourist resorts in and around Ierapetra. Most evacuees are foreign tourists staying in local hotels. At least 200 people are being sheltered in a sports hall in Ierapetra, according to Manolis Tzarakis, president of the Southeast Crete Hoteliers’ Association who spoke to a local radio station.