Greek Coast Guard rescues people as wildfires kill firefighters on Crete

The Greek Coast Guard has launched a rescue operation on the island of Crete after rapidly spreading wildfires forced residents and tourists to flee coastal areas. The fires, which ignited on the island’s southern slopes on Tuesday, quickly moved toward the shoreline, prompting authorities to activate maritime evacuation procedures to protect those trapped near the water’s edge.

Coast Guard vessels and helicopters were deployed to the affected zones, coordinating with local fire services and police to transport evacuees to safe locations inland. By late afternoon, the Guard reported that more than 150 individuals, including families and hikers, had been rescued and taken to temporary shelters. The operation continued throughout the night, with crews monitoring fire behavior and providing medical assistance to those with smoke inhalation or minor injuries.

Officials said the combined effort of maritime and land responders helped prevent further casualties as the blaze burned across a sparsely populated coastal strip. The Coast Guard remains on standby, ready to assist additional evacuations while firefighting teams work to contain the flames and protect critical infrastructure on the island.