Thousands of people have been evacuated on the Greek island of Crete as wildfires, fanned by strong winds, threaten tourist resorts and villages. The fires have led to the tragic deaths of two firefighters who became trapped while battling a blaze near Krya Vrysi in the Rethymno region on Wednesday. A third firefighter also died on the Greek mainland near Gytheio in the Peloponnese.

Greece is currently experiencing a severe fire season, mirroring the challenges faced by other European countries grappling with devastating fires and drought. Crete's wildfires broke out in the Rethymno region on Wednesday and have spread rapidly, fueled by gusts reaching 125km/h (77mph). The strong winds, described as violent, have significantly hampered containment efforts.

Around 8,000 people were evacuated from their homes overnight on Crete, though they were later permitted to return. The fire in the Rethymno region remains out of control and is one of the largest active blazes on the island, having already destroyed homes and agricultural land. The full extent of the destruction is not yet clear, with the deputy regional governor of Rethymno, Maria Lioni, stating that containment remains the primary objective.

Lioni described Wednesday as a "dark day" for the region and noted that the extreme wind force complicated the firefighting operations. Some evacuees were provided temporary shelter. Tourists visiting the coastal resort of Agios Pavlos described the fire as appearing "like a volcano down the side of the mountain," with urgent evacuations leading to crowded vehicles.

The fire began during one of Crete's peak tourism months. Hundreds of firefighters are on the ground battling the blaze. Hellenic Fire Service chief Theodoros Vagias confirmed the identities of the two fallen firefighters as Emmanouil Stratidakis, 58, and Pantelis Diamantakis, 25, who were set to be buried on Thursday.

Similar fire emergencies are unfolding across southern Europe. In Spain, wildfires have prompted evacuations in the north-western provinces of Zamora and León, near the Portuguese border, affecting over 1,000 people. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared an end to the national emergency for wildfires in the Ávila and Madrid regions.

In France, residents in the Gironde region have begun returning to their homes after a major wildfire was brought under control. Meanwhile, in Portugal, a fire in Valpaços injured five people. The ongoing fire events highlight the increasing severity of wildfire seasons across the continent, exacerbated by climate change and extreme weather conditions.

Authorities continue to focus on controlling the Crete blaze, with the long-term impact on tourism and the environment still to be fully assessed. The loss of life among firefighters underscores the dangerous conditions faced by emergency services during these extreme weather events.