All articles tagged with #crete
Hundreds of people in central Greece were evacuated by sea from Agios Vasileios as wildfires rage across Greece, with a large blaze on Crete and additional fires in Spain, Portugal and Turkey amid heatwaves; evacuees and ongoing firefighting efforts underscore a widening European wildfire crisis.
Thousands were evacuated on the Greek island of Crete as wildfires driven by strong winds threaten villages and resorts; two firefighters died and containment was hampered by gusts up to 125 km/h and grounded aircraft, amid a wider European heatwave fueling fires across Greece, Spain, Portugal and France.
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.
Dozens of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters near Crete disembarked on Crete and were to be flown to Athens for repatriation, as Greece coordinates with countries of origin; the United States labeled the operation a political stunt while European governments urged Israel to release those detained.
Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters heading to Gaza, detaining about 168 activists and transferring them to Crete after boats were halted; roughly 47 ships remain at sea with the aid convoys carrying food, medical supplies and other relief. The action drew international condemnation and was described by its organizers as a violation of international law, while the U.S. warned of possible consequences for flotilla supporters.
Israel intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters near Crete, detaining about 175 activists from more than 20 boats as authorities seek to enforce Gaza’s blockade. Organisers condemned the move as piracy, while Israel said the operation was lawful, peaceful, and aimed at preventing the breach of the blockade; several governments were calling for respect for international law and the safety of those onboard.
Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza aid flotilla near Crete and detained crewmembers as activists attempted to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza; the flotilla, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, had sailed from Barcelona earlier in April.
The USS Gerald R. Ford, the Navy’s premier aircraft carrier, is retreating from the Red Sea to Crete after a laundry-room fire injures at least two sailors. The 100,000-ton nuclear-powered ship—on an extended deployment amid tensions with Iran—will head to port as investigators assess the incident, reducing carrier availability in the region and potentially complicating ongoing Iran-related operations.
Nearly 540 asylum seekers from various countries were rescued off Crete by Greek coastguard, with their claims to be processed after health checks. The incident highlights ongoing migration challenges in Greece, especially on islands like Crete and Gavdos, amid EU efforts to manage increased migration through new policies. Human rights groups criticize these measures for risking asylum seekers' rights.
A shooting on the Greek island of Crete resulted in 2 deaths and 6 injuries, triggered by a long-standing family feud related to land disputes, prompting a significant police response and investigation.
A suspected vendetta shooting in Vorizia, Crete, resulted in at least three deaths and ten injuries, believed to be retaliation for a recent bombing, with gunfire involving Kalashnikov rifles and ongoing uncertainty about the situation.
A 40-vessel Gaza-bound flotilla resumed its journey from Crete after a two-day pause, with Italian and Spanish naval ships nearby to monitor and support its passage amid tensions and recent attacks, aiming to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.
A 3,800-year-old gold pendant depicting insects was discovered in a Minoan cemetery in Crete, sparking debate over whether it represents bees or wasps and their symbolic significance in ancient Minoan culture.
Greece is battling a severe wildfire on Crete for the third day amid a heatwave across Europe, with strong winds complicating firefighting efforts, causing evacuations, and damaging agricultural land and tourism infrastructure, as temperatures soar and other European countries also face heat-related emergencies.
Wildfires in Greece's Crete and near Athens have been extinguished with no casualties, while Turkey faces deadly wildfires causing two deaths and evacuations, driven by extreme heat and strong winds, highlighting the increasing severity of climate-related wildfires in the region.