A tourist visiting the coastal resort of Agios Pavlos for a yoga retreat with her mum says the place she had breakfast in has burned down.

Bianca Boorer said she "didn't know what to do" as she watched the fire, which was "like a volcano down the side of the mountain."

"The bar staff told us you need to get in cars and drive away but only two people had cars," she told the BBC.

"Eleven people tried to get into one tiny car and the car my mum was in was nearer to the fire," Bianca added.

"The place we had breakfast in has burnt down. Agios Pavlos hotel has burnt down, the place we did yoga in has also burnt down."

Very strong winds around the Preveli area of Crete has prevented water-dropping aircraft from helping tackle the wildfires, officials say.

It comes after new emergency evacuation alerts were issued for the tourist area as a new fire broke out near Asomatos.

According to local media, some properties caught fire, though the extent of the damage is not immediately clear.

Strong winds have hampered firefighting efforts(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

At least 4,500 hectares (11,250 acres) of land has burned in Crete over the last two days as fierce wildfires continue raging across the island's south.

The figure, released by the National Observatory of Athens, is based on imagery provided by the Sentinel-2 satellite from the fires afflicting the island's Rethymno region.

Land burning near the village of Asomatos in Crete(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has warned that Greece's wildfire season is far from over.

He said the country still faced "difficult days ahead" and urged members of the public to exercise "the utmost caution."

Wildfires are common during Greece's hot, arid summers, when vegetation is dry and winds are strong.

A previous wildire that tore through the seaside town of Mati, east of Athens, in 2018 saw 104 people killed.

People stand next to a greenhouse during a wildfire near the village of Asomatos, Crete(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has paid tribute to the firefighters who lost their lives whilst trying to tackle the flames in Rethymno.

"I express our deepest sorrow," Mitsotakis said at a cabinet meeting on Thursday. "The state honors them, stands by their families and strengthens its actions so that Greece becomes ever better protected against the climate crisis."

Tourists and local residents from the resort village of Agia Galini have been pictured at an indoor stadium where they are temporarily accommodated as a wildfire in Rethymno, southwest of Crete, continues to burn.

Thousands were evacuated from Crete last night(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Wildfires are raging across several locations in Greece.

Three firefighters have now died tackling fires in Crete and in the Peloponnese.

Several villages have been evacuated in Crete, where two of the firefighters died after becoming trapped.

About 700 people who were evacuated from Agia Galini and the wider Agios Vasileios municipality were moved to a sports hall in the town of Moires, in neighbouring Heraklion.

Tourists and local residents from the resort village of Agia Galini shelter in an indoor stadium after being evacuated during a wildfire in Rethymno, Crete(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Tourists wait to be transferred to the Moires Indoor Sports Hall in Heraklion, Crete(Image: NIKOS CHALKIADAKIS/EPA/Shutterstock)

"Rethymno has been turned into a wasteland," Ioannis Tatarakis, the mayor of the Agios Vasileios municipality in Rethymno, told CNN Greece.

He said that although aerial firefighting resources have arrived, they are unable to operate due to gale-force winds, with efforts now focused on ground crews.

Rethymno Deputy Regional Governor Maria Lioni told public broadcaster ERT that wind gusts in southern Rethymno reached up to 11 on the Beaufort scale, making it impossible for firefighting aircraft to operate.

Force 11 winds are classed as a "violent storm", with gusts of more than 100 km/h and exceptionally high waves.

She described the situation as extremely challenging, saying around 190 firefighters are involved in the operation and that all available resources from the regional authorities have been deployed.

Firefighters tackle a wildfire in low vegetation near Krya Vrysi in Rethymno, Crete(Image: NIKOS CHALKIADAKIS/EPA/Shutterstock)

As we reported earlier, two fire engines were engulfed in flames as firefighters were attempting to extinguish a wildfire that broke out in low-lying vegetation in Agia Triada, Sitia, on the Greek island of Crete.

Two firefighters suffered minor burns and were taken to hospital.

A "very high wildfire risk" (Category 4 out of 5) has been forecast for tomorrow across large parts of Greece, including a number of islands.

The following regions are under the alert:

• Attica, where Athens is located
• Peloponnese
• Central Greece
• North Aegean, which is home to Lesvos, Chios and Samos islands among others
• South Aegean - the alert covers the Cycladic islands only (e.g. Mykonos, Santorini, Naxos, Paros, Milos, Sifnos) and not the Dodecanese (e.g. Rhodes, Kos)
• Crete
• Western Greece, which is home to Zakynthos among other islands
• Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, including the island of Samothrace

Tourists and local residents evacuated from the resort village of Agia Galini in the Rethymno area, on the Greek island of Crete(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

In Greece, a new wildfire has broken out in Paleopolis, a village on the island of Andros that was once its ancient capital, and residents have been told to evacuate.

At around 2.30pm local time, an emergency alert was issued via Greece's 112 service ordering residents in Paleopolis to evacuate towards Batsi.

The Cyclades Arson Crime Investigation Team has been mobilised to investigate the causes of the fire.

Successive heatwaves and severe drought - which scientists have attributed to human-caused climate change - have hit Europe this year, making wildfires more likely and more intense.

In France, a little rain fell today near Bordeaux, raising hopes the fire that has ravaged 42,000 hectares in Gironde is nearing an end as authorities allowed some of the 220,000 displaced residents to return home.

The main blaze began last Wednesday in a pine forest near the village of Saumos, about 25 miles west of Bordeaux.

Regional firefighting chief Marc Vermeulen has said his teams will still need to spend several days dousing water on remaining flames inside the forest as well as at its edges to avoid it picking up again.

A firefighter uses a drip torch to create a firebreak during a controlled burn in a forest in Le Porge, north of the Arcachon Basin, on Thursday(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Two firefighters died after becoming trapped between two fire fronts in the region of Rethymno, in southern Crete, yesterday.

A third firefighter was found unconscious near the southern Peloponnese port town of Gytheio and was later pronounced dead. They "fell heroically in the line of duty, safeguarding the lives and property of citizens as well as the natural environment", a statement from the Hellenic Fire Service said.

In southern Turkey, wildfires are burning in parts of the resort city of Antalya and Mugla province - two areas that attract large numbers of tourists during the summer.

Strong winds have caused fires in Mugla, home to the coastal resort of Bodrum, to spread rapidly.

Firefighters battle a wildfire in the Fethiye district of Mugla, Turkey(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

A forest fire in the Seydikemer district of Mugla, Turkey(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, in the east of England, properties have been evacuated as firefighters battle a large heathland blaze on the Suffolk coast during the UK’s fourth heatwave of the summer.

A major incident was declared after Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service responded to reports of a wildfire at Dunwich Heath, near Leiston, shortly after 5.30pm yesterday.

"Following the update throughout the night, crews from Suffolk Fire and Rescue are still tackling a large wildfire at Dunwich Heath," the fire service said in an update this morning.

A spokesperson for the Hellenic Fire Service told Greek public broadcaster ERT this morning that a few active fire fronts remain in Plomari, Lesvos, which he said 52 firefighters and teams of volunteer hikers are working to extinguish.

However, he warned that strong winds mean there is a great risk of flare-ups.

A man moves away from a fire in the town of Plomari on the Greek island of Lesvos(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A resident flees with his horses after a fire broke out in Plomari, on the Greek island of Lesvos(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

The secretary general of France's biggest police union, Alliance, has slammed the thefts and burglaries that have taken place in the towns ravaged by wildfires in the Gironde region.

In a scathing post on X titled "Bordeaux: the face of shame", Fabien Vanhemelryck said yesterday: “While police officers, firefighters, rescue workers, volunteers and all emergency services are fighting tirelessly… Others choose to become predators. Yes, predators. Individuals are taking advantage of human distress to steal the belongings of evacuees. Looting and burglaries have led to arrests in the disaster areas."

He said that in Bordeaux's Parc des Expositions reception centre, "riot police are forced to patrol day and night to protect the belongings of families who have already lost everything. Even more outrageous, there are reports of individuals demanding money from people simply wanting to use the toilets".

"How long will we tolerate thugs taking advantage of every disaster to steal, loot, extort, or terrorise those who are already suffering?" he added.

The wildfires in southern Rethymno, on the Greek island of Crete, remain "out of control on all fire fronts", Greek public broadcaster ERT reports.

A blaze broke out at around 2.30pm yesterday in low-lying vegetation near the village of Krya Vrysi. Around 8,000 people have been evacuated from parts of Rethymno.

George Tsambakos, Crete's deputy regional governor, told ERT that strong winds have prevented firefighting aircraft from being deployed.

Wildfires in southern Rethymno, Crete, remain 'out of control'(Image: Google)

The huge fire that ravaged 42,000 hectares in Gironde remains "stable" after "a rather calm night", the prefecture said this morning, adding that it expects "rather favourable" weather conditions, with cooler temperatures and some showers expected.

Temperature in the region are set to hover between 27C and 34C today - a significant drop from the scorching highs of 41C seen yesterday.

Gironde prefect Sophie Brocas said yesterday: "If the night goes well, we can reasonably be more optimistic for tomorrow [Thursday] and for the days to come, because the weather, finally, will be a little more favourable to us with a drop in temperatures.

"And if this is confirmed, we can consider a return to a more normal life for the inhabitants."

A firefighter is seen near Le Temple, Gironde, in south-west France(Image: Sapte Fabrice/ABACA/Shutterstock)

In Greece, two firefighters, aged 25 and 58, were killed yesterday when they became trapped while battling a blaze at Krya Vrysi, a small mountain village in the Rethymno region, on the island of Crete.

Tragically, Padelis Diamadakis - the youngest of the two - had only just started working as a seasonal firefighter after completing his studies, according to Greek media.

A third firefighter, aged 27, died after being found unconscious yesterday while tackling a wildfire iin Gytheio, a port town on the Mani peninsula in the southern Peloponnese region.

Meanwhile, two firefighters narrowly escaped with minor burns after two fire engines were engulfed in flames yesterday during a wildfire in Sitia, Lasithi, on Crete, the Hellenic Fire Service said.

The three deaths came as wildfires ravaged the islands of Paros and Lesvos.

A fire burns through low-lying vegetation in Krya Vrysi, Rethymno, on the Greek island of Crete(Image: NIKOS CHALKIADAKIS/EPA/Shutterstock)

Fires have not spread ‌compared to the previous days, the local ⁠administration for La Nouvelle Aquitaine et de la Gironde said in a statement on X.

The amount of ground burnt remained at 42,000 hectares.

The UK government says it is committed to working with France to address the 'threat' of wildfires and help out in the wake of the devastating impact currently being seen in France.

In a statement, a government spokesperson said: "In the context of the unprecedented wildfires and heatwaves being experienced across Europe as a consequence of the global climate crisis, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the Right Honourable Edward Samuel Miliband, and the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, reaffirm their shared determination to address this threat.

"The two Ministers affirm that this summer’s wildfires demonstrated the risks posed to Europe by climate change and call on all countries to intensify their efforts to tackle its causes while boosting resilience to its effects.

"Building on the UK–France Declaration of Intent on Global Issues and Development signed in 2025, they commit to strengthening cooperation to anticipate, prevent and respond to climate-related risks, especially wildfires, as well as to deepen coordination through their broader climate and environmental partnership, including through multilateral fora.

"Recognising that the increasing impacts of climate change know no borders, the United Kingdom and France will work together to advance international efforts on climate resilience, including through enhanced adaptation measures, strengthened preparedness and risk reduction, and coordinated responses to threats that affect our shared environment, security and prosperity."

George and Amal Clooney have been forced to evacuate their home in Brignoles, in the south-east of France as wildfires ravage parts of Europe.

According to People, the Clooneys wrote a letter to Brignoles Mayor Didier Brémond addressing the wildfires.

"Dear Didier, at this point we have no idea whether our beautiful home makes it through this terrible moment," the letter began.

"As we evacuate Brignoles we want to emphasise two things, first we hope you and the people of our city are safe and second that Amal and I are committed to making sure that whatever happens to our village, we are part of this community and we'll be part of making it whole."

George and Amal Clooney at the 2026 Golden Globe Awards(Image: Getty)

The wildfires in Spain have forced a community of Augustinian nuns to evacuate their monastery, The Catholic Weekly reports.

A statement from July 27 said the sisters of the Monastery of the Conversion in Sotillo de la Adrada were evacuated July on July 25 and "had no choice but to leave the monastery."

"We especially ask for prayers for all the volunteers and security forces who are tirelessly working to extinguish the fires," the statement read.

Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters responded to the blaze in an East London suburb on the evening of Wednesday, July 29.

Around four hectares of grassland was alight.