More than 1,500 people evacuated in Crete as wildfires rage across Europe – live

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Wind-fuelled wildfires rage in Turkey

Separately, two wildfires that began overnight near the western Turkish resort of Izmir were raging out of control on Thursday, fuelled by high winds, officials said, in comments reported by AFP.

Firefighters are combating a wildfire that started in an agricultural area and spread to the forest in Ildir neighbourhood of Cesme district, Izmir, Turkey. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

“Strong winds are making firefighting efforts difficult in Izmir,” Turkey’s forestry directorate said on X as aerial firefighting planes and helicopters resumed their sorties at sunrise.

Locals in at least five districts in the two areas were evacuated as a precaution but there were no immediate reports of injuries.

Since Friday, hundreds of fires have been reported across drought-hit Turkey, fuelled by high winds, AFP noted.

On Monday, more than 50,000 people were evacuated, mostly in the Izmir area but also from the southern province of Hatay, the AFAD disaster management agency said.

Morning opening: Heatwave continues with wildfire warnings in place

More than 1,500 people were evacuated from hotels and homes overnight on Crete as firefighters are fighting a fast-spreading wildfire on the southern coast of the Greek island.

Over 230 firefighters are involved fighting multiple outbreaks posing a “very difficult” overall picture for the emergency services, the Greek fire brigade said in an update on Thursday morning.

Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire near Ierapetra, on the island of Crete, Greece. Photograph: Stefanos Rapanis/Reuters

A separate fire broke out in Halkidiki region of Greece, with 160 firefighters and 49 vehicles involved in emergency response, the fire service said.

The service warned that the country was entering “the most difficult month of the fire season,” with strong winds contributing to their spread.

Separate wildfires were reported in Germany, where at least two were seriously injured and over 100 reportedly evacuated in a forest fire in Saxony, and in Spain.

The forest floor is on fire in a wooded area on the Saalfelder Höhe, in Reichmannsdorf, Germany. Photograph: Daniel Vogl/AP

The fires come as Europe continues to face extreme weather conditions, with Spain, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Croatia all expected to report temperatures in mid-30s today.

I will bring you all the latest here.

It’s Thursday, 2 July 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.