Two firefighters have died battling a massive wildfire in Rethymno, Crete, as fires rage across multiple Greek islands w...

Two firefighters have died battling a massive wildfire in Rethymno, Crete, as fires rage across multiple Greek islands with no signs of slowing down. Pantelis Diamantakis, 25, a seasonal firefighter, was killed at the Kryia Vrisi fire near Agios Vassilios. His colleague Manolis Stratidakis also lost his life in the same blaze. Both men were buried in Rethymno within hours of each other, with crowds applauding their coffins and calling out "athanatos," the Greek word for immortal. The Agios Vassilios fire in Rethymno remains completely out of control, having spread rapidly from the Kryia Vrisi area due to gale-force winds. Early estimates put the damage at more than 45,000 stremmata of farmland, olive groves, and pasture reduced to ash. A large portion of the famous Preveli palm forest has also been destroyed, with firefighters describing the blaze as nearly impossible to contain. Fifty-nine people were rescued by sea from the Preveli coastline after being trapped by the advancing fire. A Hellenic Coast Guard rescue vessel pulled the last eight survivors out under severe weather conditions and transferred them to the port of Agia Galini. Two residents who had stayed behind trying to save their property were also freed by the 9th EMAK mountain rescue unit after being surrounded by flames. Fires are simultaneously burning on Paros, Andros, and Kalymnos. On Paros, a major re-ignition near Aspro Chorio pushed the island to a Category 4 fire danger rating, with thick smoke and falling ash reported across the area. High winds on Andros and Paros also disrupted ferry routes, forcing vessels including the Super Star to reroute to Lavrio after failing to dock at Andros and Tinos. Civil Protection has placed much of the country on Red Code fire danger, including Attica, Crete, and the Aegean islands. Wind speeds in the Aegean are forecast to reach 8 to 9 Beaufort in the coming hours, meaning conditions are expected to stay dangerous through the night. #Greece #Wildfires #Crete