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Fanned by strong winds, the blaze spread across the slopes of
the mountainous forest east of the seaside town of Ierapetra.
Authorities ordered the precautionary evacuation of the Achlia,
Galini, Agia Fotia and Mavros Kolimpos settlements, home to
around 300 people, as the blaze got close to some homes.
About 120 firefighters were battling the blaze on the ground,
assisted by two helicopters.
Wildfires are common in the Mediterranean nation during the
summer months, but the government has said that extremely dry,
windy and hot conditions that scientists link to climate change
have made them worse in recent years.
Last year a wildfire burning in northeastern Greece for 11 days
destroyed an area larger than New York City and killed 20
people.
(Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas; Editing by Jan Harvey)
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