The fires are raging in the Swedish paradise

Forest fires
Several forest fires on Greek island paradise

Sigrid Nenander

Updated 15.00 | Published 13.38

Forest fires on the Greek island of Hydra June 21. Photo: Volunteer Fire Station Of Hydra / Reuters.

Several fires have ravaged the holiday island of Crete.

During the night, helicopters water-bombed large areas to stop the fire.

- It's absolutely insane, says Swedish Pernilla, who vacations on the island.

During Tuesday, a fire broke out in a mountainous area in Rethymnon in western Crete.

Six villages have since been evacuated and over 150 firefighters battled the flames during the night to Wednesday, Greek media reported.

- I see the helicopters. They collect water right here and waterbomb all the time, says Pernilla Kjellström, who vacations on the island.

After the fire brigade water-bombed large areas, they managed to get the fire under control during the morning.

However, strong winds risk spreading the fire quickly and there is great concern that new fires will start.

- So it is extremely dry. I've been here for many years and I've never seen it this dry, says Pernilla. 

Olive trees burning in Mycenae on the Greek mainland June 21. Photo: Vagelis Bougiotis / EPA

Several fires reported

According to the news channel Greek Reporter, 51 forest fires have been reported within the last 24 hours across the country.

So far, it has been worst in Crete where the temperatures are unusually high for the time of year. After a record-warm winter, the ground is also very dry.

- So it's sick. We always go in May and June and it's not usually this hot. We've had a heat wave, it's been 40 degrees here and it's a month too early.

Both the fire service and the local population have made a huge effort to get the fire under control, says Pernilla. Despite that, she has now begun to investigate the possibility of flying home earlier than planned.

- I'm looking at maybe flying back a little earlier. We're supposed to go home next week, but I don't really know. It is sad and unpleasant.

Billions to combat

During the summer of 2023, Greece was ravaged by several serious fires. Among other things, authorities were forced to mass evacuate the islands of Rhodes and Corfu.

The Greek government has since gathered strength to review its disaster preparedness for forest fires, something that TT previously wrote about. 

The number of specialized firefighters has increased to about 1,300 people and about 2.1 billion euros have been invested in long-term efforts to meet the increasingly serious fires of the summer season.

             

            A helicopter waterbombs forest fires on the island of Crete.