Gale force wind gusts complicated efforts on Friday to contain wildfires on Crete that have razed forests and olive groves and forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate.

Firefighters battle wildfires in Greece and Turkey, prompting evacuations and emergency response According to a 2024 report by the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe is the continent with the fastest-rising temperatures on Earth,

The wildfire flames have spread rapidly across Crete, reaching homes as well as hotels and other tourist accommodations.