East Crete faces powerful fires that have gotten out of control, creating a real threat to residents and tourists. The situation is dramatic, and the fight against the component is hampered by strong winds. In the face of an expanding crisis, over 80 Polish tourists, travelling with the Grecos office, has already been evacuated from their hotels in the area covered by fire. The Ministry of abroad Affairs monitors the situation, but for this minute it does not plan to mass evacuation of Poles to the country, while calling for vigilance and following the recommendations of local services. The fire, which spreads at large speed, consumes homes and green areas, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes and vacation places.
Situation in Crete: Fire Getting Out of Control
The fires in east Crete, especially around the city of Ierapetra, reached a critical level. The Greek authorities confirmed that The fire is completely out of control.. The fight against the component is importantly hampered by a strong wind that promotes the fast spread of flames. The Deputy Mayor of civilian Defence Ierapetra, in an interview with the portal creta24.gr, described the situation as “difficult”. The burning houses in Fermakoło Ierapetra show the scale of harm and immediate threat to infrastructure and life. The evacuation messages were sent to residents and tourists in 5 key towns: Agia Fotia, Achlia, Galini, Ferma and Koutsounari, stressing the urgency of the situation and the request for immediate action.
More than 80 Polish citizens have already felt the direct impact of the fires, who spent their holidays in Crete with the Grecos travel agency. These tourists had to leave their hotels in the hot areas as a substance of urgency. At night, they were transported to a safer part of the island, leaving most of the property in their rooms. "In the morning I was looking at the portals: reinforcements arrived from Athens at night, and firefighting planes arrived in the morning. The harm is very large" – said Krzysztof, a Polish tourist who is on the spot. A fewer tourists left evacuated from the beach by boatsWhich shows that the fire cut off their way out by land. This shows how dynamically and unpredictablely the situation is developing, forcing fast and frequently improvised rescue operations.
Services and Support from Athens
Major forces were active in the fight against the destructive element. He works in Crete. 145 firefighters, supported by 25 fire trucks and 4 helicopters. Authorities in Athens, seeing the gravity of the situation, directed additional reinforcements to the island, including firefighting aircraft and ground teams, to intensify the fight against fire. Despite the immense scale of the fires and the immediate threat, so far there are no reports of serious injuries. respective residents were given medical assistance due to breathing difficulties, which is simply a typical symptom in areas smoky. Emergency services are working unrelentingly, trying to control the situation and guarantee the safety of everyone on the island.
Ministry of abroad Affairs position: What next for travellers?
The Ministry of abroad Affairs of Poland, via writer Ignacy Michałowski from Lega Artis, has said that for now does not plan to evacuate Poles from east Crete to the country. The hotel recalls that the fire hazard in Greece is high, but at the same time stresses that it does not discourage trips to that country. It is crucial that Polish tourists keep up-to-date with the latest messages from local authorities and emergency services and follow their recommendations. If evacuation is necessary, follow the instructions of hotel staff or travel agent representatives. All those planning to travel to Greece should be aware of the risks and monitor developments on an ongoing basis in order to guarantee a safe and peaceful rest.
Continued here:
Mole on fire. Evacuation of Polish Tourists: Drama in Greece
