Athens, Greece — More than 200 firefighters on the southern Greek island of Crete struggled Wednesday night to contain a large forest fire that forced authorities to evacuate one village and prepare others for evacuation.
The fire service said 222 firefighters were battling the flames in the Rethymno district of western Crete, including 32 who arrived by plane from other parts of Greece.
There were no immediate reports of damage to homes or injuries, but the small village of Aghia Paraskevi was evacuated as a precaution. Residents of three neighboring towns were also warned to be prepared to leave their homes if necessary.
The fire devastated bushes and olive groves, driven by strong winds.
More than 2,000 forest fires have erupted across Greece this summer, and authorities have warned it carries the highest fire risk in the past two decades. This is because a mild, dry winter followed by a hot, dry spring has left vegetation across the country dry, allowing flames to spread rapidly.
However, an investment in more firefighting means, including water-dropping aircraft and early warning drones, along with intense efforts by firefighters, has led to most fires being extinguished within hours.
Dozens of people have been arrested or fined for accidentally setting fires, while charges of arson have been laid in a small number of cases.
Like other Mediterranean countries, Greece suffers devastating forest fires every summer. Officials say the problem has been exacerbated by high temperatures due to climate change.
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