Three firefighters die as Greek wildfires force mass evacuations in Crete

Three Greek firefighters died battling wildfires near Rethymno on Crete as gale-force winds spread the blazes. About 2,000 tourists were evacuated from Agia Galini and surrounding areas, with 156 firefighters, eight ground teams, 33 engines, four helicopters and four aircraft deployed, plus coastguard assistance and support from heavy machinery. Evacuations expanded to several villages after 112 emergency alerts, and the Rethymno Arson Crime Investigation Unit is probing the fire’s cause; coastguard lifeboats rescued 29 people from the sea near Agios Pavlos.