Local fishermen joined the Hellenic Coast Guard in a dramatic sea rescue operation to save dozens of tourists stranded on beaches along Crete’s southern coast, as deadly wildfires swept across the Greek island and killed three firefighters.
Local fishermen played a critical role in rescuing dozens of terrified holidaymakers stranded on Crete’s beaches, as devastating wildfires tore across the Greek island during the peak of summer season. Footage captured the moment locals braved rough seas to evacuate tourists trapped along the coastline, with the sky turning ominous shades of orange and black as a fleet of coast guard vessels and fishing boats rushed to reach those cut off by the flames. Thousands of locals and British tourists have since been evacuated from Crete after the wildfires killed three firefighters, with further blazes also raging on the islands of Paros and Lesbos.
A fisherman’s account of the rescue
Young fisherman Nikos Matthaiakis was among those who answered the call to help, ready to act at a moment’s notice once contacted by the Port Authority. Speaking to Cretalive.gr, he said: “We did our duty too… I was called by the Port Authority at 4 pm to be on standby. They asked me for help and I gave it generously. I went with my fishing boat.”
Around 30 people had become trapped on a beach in Agios Pavlos, on Crete’s southern coast, as violent winds whipped the sea into dangerous conditions. Nikos described the extreme conditions he faced reaching them: “It was stifling in terms of fire and smoke, but the winds were hurricane-force. They recorded up to 160 kilometres of wind gusts (100 miles).” As flames closed in on the shore, gas cylinders began exploding across the island, producing deafening bangs. “The tavern and the accommodations were burning above. Some bottles also exploded. We could hear bangs,” he said.
Despite the danger, Nikos made several trips to shore through thick smoke, helping evacuate everyone stranded on the beach, including children and elderly holidaymakers who struggled to climb aboard his boat.
A coordinated rescue effort
The rescue operation involved both the Hellenic Coast Guard and local fishing boats, with fishermen responding directly after being contacted by port authorities to help reach people trapped along stretches of coastline that were otherwise inaccessible. The operation highlighted the difficulties faced by emergency services in reaching some coastal areas by road, making sea evacuations the safest option for stranded tourists in several locations.
Late on Wednesday, around 8,000 people were evacuated as the fires threatened a resort village, according to Maria Lioni, deputy governor of the Rethymno region, who said the flames had come within less than a mile of the settlement.
Firefighting effort on the ground
Firefighters battling the blazes were supported by water-dropping helicopters and aircraft, though strong winds periodically restricted aerial firefighting operations. Fire officials warned that constantly shifting wind direction made the fires highly unpredictable, triggering new flare-ups and making containment extremely difficult. Authorities deployed hundreds of firefighters, dozens of fire engines and multiple aircraft to tackle the blazes, with reinforcements sent from other parts of Greece to support the response.
The fires burned through forest, scrubland, olive groves and agricultural land, causing significant damage to local crops as well as tourism infrastructure across the affected areas.
Support for evacuated tourists and residents
Emergency shelters, including sports halls and other public buildings, were opened to house evacuated tourists and residents, while many holidaymakers were relocated to hotels in safer parts of the island as the fires continued to spread.
