Three Greek firefighters died battling wildfires that have swept across Crete on Wednesday (July 29) as strong winds spread flames through vegetated areas and threatened homes in mountainous valleys.

Two firefighters became trapped in the Crete blaze near the village of Krya Vrysi while they were driving between fire fronts. Another died in a separate fire in the Peloponnese region, a fire department spokesperson told Reuters.

Residents and tourists were evacuated from Krya Vrysi and other nearby villages, locals told Reuters by phone, as high winds pushed the fire out of control near popular holiday spots.

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Three Greek firefighters die battling blazes in high winds in Crete

VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS OF WILDFIRE IN CRETE, FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING FLAMES IN HIGH WINDS, SOUNDBITE FROM LOCAL

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: CRETE, GREECE (JULY 29, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. SMOKE FROM WILDFIRES BILLOWING ONTO MOUNTAINOUS VALLEY, VEGETATION BATTERED BY STRONG WINDS

2. VARIOUS OF FIRE HOTSPOTS BURNING IN VEGETATED AREA, STRONG WINDS BLOWING

3. VARIOUS OF FIRE TRUCKS ON ROAD

4. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS SPRAYING WATER OVER VEGETATION NEXT TO BUILDING

5. FIREFIGHTERS CARRYING SHOVELS WALKING

6. LOCALS, OFFICIALS AND FIREFIGHTERS GATHERED ON SIDE OF ROAD

7. OVERTURNED AND BURNED GARBAGE CONTAINER NEXT TO SCORCHED AREA

8. PERSON GRIPPING A GUARDRAIL WHILE STRUGGLING TO WALK AGAINST STRONG WINDS

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) RESIDENT, MANOLIS VERIDAKIS, SAYING:

"We were in danger, but with everyone's efforts, and with hoses and buckets, and the wind (then having) moved away, we escaped the worst. The fire entered some of the yards of homes but we escaped the worst."

10. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS SPRAYING WATER ONTO FIRE HOTSPOTS AMID STRONG WINDS

11. VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER FLYING OVER VALLEY, SMOKE BILLOWING

12. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING BLAZE BURNING BY THE SIDE OF ROAD

13. SMOKE BILLOWING ONTO MOUNTAINOUS VALLEY AMID STRONG WINDS, FIRE HOTSPOTS BURNING