Three firefighters lost their lives on Wednesday while fighting separate wildfires in Greece, as strong winds fueled aggressive blazes on the island of Crete and the Peloponnese region.
Two of the fatalities occurred in the Rethymno region on Crete, where crews are still working to contain the spreading fire.
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Local media reported that the two firefighters may have become trapped inside their vehicle after dense smoke severely reduced visibility.
A third firefighter died during response operations at a separate wildfire in the Peloponnese, according to local authorities.
Evacuations Ordered as Fires Spread
More than 150 firefighters were deployed after the initial outbreak of the Crete blaze on Wednesday.
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High winds rapidly pushed the flames through brush, creating challenging conditions for ground crews.
Emergency officials issued mandatory evacuation orders for several threatened communities in the path of the flames.
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Aerial support was deployed alongside ground units, with helicopters and water-dropping aircraft discharging thousands of liters of water over the active fire lines.
