The Rethymno wildfire remains the most critical of the major fires burning in Greece, with firefighters battling a massive blaze that continues to spread rapidly due to powerful winds. Aerial firefighting operations have been severely restricted, making containment efforts even more difficult.

Key Developments

• The Rethymno wildfire continues to burn for a second consecutive day, with the largest active fire front stretching from Agia Paraskevi to Lakoumia.
• Aerial firefighting aircraft remain on standby but have been unable to assist due to strong winds reaching up to Force 10 on the Beaufort scale.
• Wind gusts in southern Rethymno reached 125 km/h on Thursday morning, further fueling the fast-moving wildfire.
• Emotional scenes unfolded at the funeral of 25-year-old firefighter Pantelis Diamantakis, while the funeral of 58-year-old Manolis Stratidakis is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Authorities continue investigating how the two firefighters became trapped by the flames and lost their lives.
• Fire Service spokesperson Vassilis Artopios: “We are not stopping the fight. The situation in Rethymno remains extremely difficult.”
• The wildfire front now stretches for more than 12 kilometres, making it one of the largest active fire fronts in Greece.
• Rethymno Deputy Regional Governor Maria Lioni described the situation as “a nightmare night and a nightmare day.”

Live Updates

30/07/2026 14:35

Sitia wildfire fully contained and under control

The wildfire that broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the Agia Triada area of the Municipality of Sitia is now fully contained and under control, with no active fire front remaining. Only smoke-emitting spots and scattered, controlled pockets of fire are still present.

Strong winds continue to blow in the area, keeping firefighting forces on full alert due to the risk of flare-ups.

According to the municipal authorities, anyone in need of temporary accommodation can be hosted at the former town hall in the Makry Gialos area, as the building has been opened to provide shelter.

Firefighters, water tanker crews and local residents who have supported the firefighting effort throughout the incident remain fully deployed across the wider area, from Agia Triada to beyond Atherinolakos.

Photos: Rethymno wildfire continues to rage for a second day

Mitsotakis Pays Tribute to Fallen Firefighters

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty as he opened Thursday’s Cabinet meeting, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening Greece’s resilience against the growing impact of the climate crisis.

Outlining the government’s priorities, Mitsotakis linked civil protection, road safety, water management and energy policy within a broader reform agenda. He expressed the government’s deep sorrow over the firefighters who died battling the wildfires, warned that August is expected to be an especially challenging month, and urged the public to exercise maximum caution amid the heightened wildfire risk.

Municipality of Agios Vasileios Declared in State of Emergency

30/07/2026 – 12:49

The Municipality of Agios Vasileios in the Rethymno regional unit has been placed under a State of Civil Protection Emergency for three months following the devastating wildfire that broke out on 29 July 2026.

The decision was signed by Civil Protection Secretary General Nikos Papaefstathiou and is effective from the date the fire started until 29 October 2026.

The emergency declaration is intended to accelerate response procedures, support recovery efforts, and facilitate state assistance for affected communities through Greece’s civil protection and disaster relief mechanisms.

Kyriakos Kyranakis and Giannis Kefalogiannis to Attend Funeral Services for Fallen Firefighters

Representatives of New Democracy will attend the funerals of the two firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty while battling the wildfire in Rethymno.

The party’s secretary, Konstantinos Kyranakis, will attend the funeral service of one firefighter in Gerakari at 5:00 p.m., while Giannis Kefalogiannis, New Democracy MP for Rethymno and former Minister of Civil Protection, will represent the party at the second funeral, which will be held at 12:00 p.m. in Fourfouras.

Visitors Begin Returning to Agia Galini After Wildfire

30/07/2026 – 10:11

Visitors have begun returning to Agia Galini following the major wildfire that swept through the Krya Vrysi area of Rethymno, as firefighters continue tackling flare-ups and authorities work to restore normality.

The Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection announced that tourists are gradually returning to their accommodation while repair work continues on the electricity grid and road network damaged by the fire.

Priority is being given to around 100 people who had been temporarily sheltered at the Phaistos Municipal Indoor Sports Hall, where the Municipality of Phaistos, with support from the Region of Crete, provided emergency accommodation and assistance.

Visitors who had been relocated to other hotels are also returning where conditions allow. Those evacuated from other affected areas who are still unable to return remain in the hotels where they were temporarily accommodated.

Meanwhile, crews from HEDNO (the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator) are working to repair extensive damage to power lines and utility poles caused by the wildfire. Road restoration works are also underway, with authorities aiming to restore normal conditions in the area as quickly as possible.

08:23 – No Active Fire Front in Plomari, Lesvos

Authorities report that the main wildfire front in Plomari has been contained. Firefighters are continuing operations to extinguish flare-ups and prevent reignitions.

08:09 – “A Nightmare Night and a Nightmare Day”

Rethymno Deputy Regional Governor Maria Lioni described the situation as “a nightmare night and a nightmare day” in an interview with ERT News.

She said precautionary evacuations of both small and large villages were carried out successfully to protect residents from the rapidly advancing wildfire.

08:08 – Strong Winds Prevent Aerial Firefighting

Crete’s Deputy Regional Governor for Civil Protection, Giorgos Tsapakis, said the wildfire in Rethymno has grown to an enormous scale.

According to Tsapakis, the fire front now exceeds 15 kilometers (9.3 miles), while strong winds have made it impossible for firefighting aircraft and helicopters to operate safely.

He added that similar weather conditions are affecting firefighting efforts in Sitia.

“With winds of this intensity, conditions are extremely difficult,” Tsapakis said, stressing that the severe weather is significantly hampering firefighting operations.

07:55 – Sitia Wildfire Brought Under Control

Officials say the wildfire near Agia Triada, Sitia, has been contained along a remote mountain ridge and is no longer threatening residential areas.

Firefighters expect aerial support to help fully extinguish the blaze once weather conditions improve.

The operation currently involves 25 firefighters, one EMODE special wildfire unit, eight fire engines, municipal water tankers, and heavy machinery from local authorities and private contractors.

07:44 – Aircraft Unable to Fly Over Rethymno

The most serious wildfire remains in southern Rethymno, according to Deputy Regional Governor Giorgos Tsapakis.

Wind gusts are reaching Force 10 to 11 on the Beaufort scale, making it impossible for aerial firefighting aircraft to assist ground crews.

Authorities hope helicopters will be able to begin water drops as soon as conditions improve, helping firefighters gain control of the rapidly expanding blaze.

Residents and Tourists Sheltered After Overnight Evacuations

It was a difficult night for residents and tourists forced to evacuate wildfire-hit areas in southern Crete following Wednesday’s deadly blaze, which claimed the lives of two firefighters in Rethymno.

Most evacuees spent the night at the Faistos Municipal Indoor Sports Hall in Moires, after a 112 emergency alert ordered the evacuation of Agia Galini.

The Municipality of Faistos immediately activated its emergency accommodation plan, with additional school buildings prepared if more shelter is needed.

Mayor Grigoris Nikolidakis told Cretalive that many evacuees were transported by tour operators, while most others were accommodated at the sports hall.

“We welcomed everyone who had to leave their homes. Beds, clean linens, food, and everything else they needed were provided free of charge,” he said.

Police officers and volunteers from the Hellenic Red Cross were deployed from the outset to assist displaced residents and visitors.

The mayor also spoke early Thursday with Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Evangelos Tournas, who said authorities are working to determine where evacuees will stay, when they may be able to return, and how affected foreign tourists will be assisted in the coming days.