Sixty-three firefighters, backed by three ground crews, volunteers and 18 vehicles, have been mobilised to fight the blaze in Rethymno, Crete, while four helicopters carry out water drops from the air, supported by heavy machinery and municipal water tankers.

The alarm was raised on the afternoon of 14 August, the eve of Greece’s 15 August Assumption holiday, in Rethymno (Sellia) on the island of Crete, where a fire broke out with flames burning close to houses, causing serious concern in the area.

A large firefighting force has rushed to the scene, though strong winds sweeping the area are significantly hampering crews’ efforts, according to local news outlet Neakriti.gr.

Shortly after 7.30pm, an alert was sent out via the 112 emergency notification system ordering the evacuation of the Foteinari and Souda areas. The message instructed residents to leave via the coastal Agiovasileiatikos road towards Korakas beach in Rodakino.

Reinforcements have since been sent in, with 63 firefighters, three ground teams, volunteers and 18 vehicles now battling the blaze, backed by four helicopters carrying out water drops from the air, along with heavy machinery and municipal water tankers.