A fierce wildfire broke out in the region of Western Selino. It destroyed homes, vehicles, and farmland across six villages.
The fire raged out of control for more than twelve hours. Whole communities had to evacuate as forests, pastures, and livestock suffered severe damage.
Strong winds whipped the flames along, making things even worse. Firefighters struggled to keep up as the fire spread faster than anyone expected.
Firefighters and volunteers pushed through the night, trying to contain the blaze. By morning, they faced vast stretches of scorched earth and little hope for a quick recovery.
Villages like Asfendiles and Platanes took the hardest hits. Some historic sites didn’t escape the flames either.
Residents could only watch as the fire swallowed their homes and land. It’s honestly hard to grasp the sheer scale of this disaster.
Key Takeaways
- The wildfire hit several villages, wiping out homes and farmland.
- Strong winds made the fire move frighteningly fast.
- Firefighters spent over twelve hours fighting to get it under control.
Devastation in Western Selino: Homes Burned, Properties Destroyed
A large wildfire ripped through Western Selino, raging out of control for twelve hours. Eventually, firefighters managed to bring it under control, but not before it consumed six villages.
The blaze destroyed houses, private vehicles, beehives, forested areas, meadows, and farmland. It left a mark that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
More than 200 firefighters from all over Crete showed up, with specialised crews from Chania and Heraklion. Hundreds of volunteers joined in, fighting the flames through the night.
The fire left behind vast damage despite everyone’s efforts. Thousands of acres burned, turning places like Asfendiles and Platanes into wastelands.
It started near Temenia in the Kantanos-Selino municipality. The flames then tore through Platanes, Asfendiles, Stratoi, Achladiakes, Azogyres, and eventually reached Anydros.
Several homes in Asfendiles didn’t stand a chance—they were completely destroyed. The fire got dangerously close to the Byzantine Church of Saint John, threatening nearby settlements and wiping out all vegetation in its path.
One resident in Asfendiles was caught off guard. Luckily, neighbors managed to evacuate him just in time, though his house was lost.
Apparently, the fire started from two separate spots near Temenia. Brutal winds, sometimes over nine Beaufort, pushed the flames fast—faster than anyone could really react.
By evening, six villages were either burning or in serious danger. Emergency alerts from the 112 system repeatedly told residents to get out.
By 8 pm, Temenia, Asfendiles, Achladiakes, Stratoi, and Anydros had all been evacuated. It was a chaotic scene, honestly.
Crews brought in 69 firefighting vehicles from every corner of Crete. The full EMODE forest teams from Chania and Heraklion worked alongside hundreds of volunteers.
The terrain made things worse—steep, wild, and with those relentless winds, containing the fire felt nearly impossible at times.
When dawn finally broke, helicopters joined the ground teams. That gave everyone a fighting chance to get things under control.
Impact Overview
Affected Area |
Damage Type |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
Asfendiles |
Homes destroyed, vegetation burnt |
Church of Saint John endangered |
Platanes |
Entire village affected |
Converted to barren landscape |
Temenia |
Fire origin points |
Evacuations ordered early evening |
Stratoi, Achladiakes, Azogyres, Anydros |
Various property damage and evacuation |
Multiple settlements affected |
Resources Deployed
- 200+ firefighters
- 69 firefighting vehicles across Crete
- EMODE forest commandos
- Hundreds of local volunteers
- Helicopter support at dawn
The incident scarred the landscape and turned many lives upside down. Honestly, it’s going to take a lot from both the authorities and the community to piece things back together.
