Fled the flames and jumped into the sea: dozens rescued by boats from the giant fire in Crete
Dozens of residents and tourists in southern Crete were forced to seek refuge in the sea due to a massive wildfire. A total of 31 people were rescued by the Coast Guard and private vessels from the Agios Pavlos area.
Dozens of residents and tourists were forced to flee to the coastline in southern Crete, and some even entered or jumped into the water in an attempt to escape the flames and heavy smoke, before being rescued by Coast Guard boats and private vessels. In total, 31 people were rescued from the Agios Pavlos area in the Rethymno district, as a giant fire raged in the region, spreading between villages and tourist sites and leading to the mass evacuation of residents and vacationers.
According to the Greek public broadcaster ERT and the Sky network, the fire broke out in the Kria Vrisi area and spread rapidly due to particularly strong winds. Within a short time, several fire fronts were created, and the flames advanced toward settlements including Sachtouria, Melambes, Agios Pavlos, Agios Georgios, and Agia Galini. Authorities sent a series of emergency alerts to residents and tourists via the 112 center, ordering them to leave the area.
The most dramatic incident occurred along the coast in Agios Pavlos. Fire and smoke blocked land access routes, and buses sent to the location could not reach all those trapped. According to local reports, some of the escapees reached the water's edge and entered the water to get away from the fire, while others waited on the beach for evacuation. Given the danger, a maritime rescue operation was launched. Official reports from the Coast Guard stated that the rescued were picked up from the beach and the maritime area.
The operation involved two patrol boats of the Greek Coast Guard, a rescue boat, and private vessels. Initially, 17 people were rescued, followed by 12 more, and two additional people were picked up by a vessel operating in the area, bringing the total number of rescued to 31. Among the evacuated were children, women, and the elderly, all of whom were transferred safely to the Agia Galini area.
According to Greek media, boat crews had to operate under particularly difficult conditions: strong winds, rough seas, thick smoke, and limited visibility. Footage released by the Coast Guard shows boats approaching the smoke-covered shore to take on board residents and tourists trapped between the fire and the sea. Vessels remained in the area on standby in case additional rescues were required.
At the same time, police ordered a widespread evacuation of Agia Galini and other villages in southern Rethymno. Thousands of people, including many tourists, left hotels, homes, and vacation apartments. Some evacuees were transferred to sports halls and public buildings, while others were housed in hotels in safer areas of the island.
Hundreds of firefighters, special teams, and vehicles were called to fight the fire, with the assistance of water tankers, police, the Coast Guard, and volunteers. Strong winds made it difficult to operate firefighting planes and helicopters, forcing ground forces to lead the struggle against the flames. The fire front stretched for many kilometers, reaching houses and agricultural lands in some places.
Two firefighters were killed during firefighting operations in the Kria Vrisi area. According to a statement by the Greek fire services, the two lost their lives while trying to bring the fire under control. Their deaths deepened the scale of the disaster, as emergency forces continued to fight the flames and prevent further harm to human life and property.
