Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has expressed his condolences to the families and colleagues of three firefighters who died while battling wildfires in Crete and the southern Peloponnese.
“I extend my sincere condolences to the families and colleagues of the two firefighters who lost their lives fighting the flames in Rethymno, as well as to the firefighter who passed away in Gytheio,” Mitsotakis said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with them, as well as with all firefighters, volunteers and members of the security forces who are fighting on the fire fronts amid a harsh new reality they are called upon to confront every year,” the prime minister added.
Rethymno is in mourning following the deaths of two firefighters who were killed on Wednesday while taking part in an operation to contain a wildfire in Krya Vrysi, in the Agios Vasilios area.
The funerals of 58-year-old five-year fixed-term firefighter Manolis Stratidakis and 25-year-old seasonal firefighter Pantelis Diamantakis will take place on Thursday, July 30. Relatives, friends and colleagues are expected to gather to pay their final respects to the two men who died on the front line, amid messages of condolence from regional and local authorities.
The funeral service for 25-year-old Pantelis Diamantakis is scheduled for noon at the Church of St. George in Amari.
The funeral of 58-year-old Manolis Stratidakis will take place at 5 p.m. at the Church of the Annunciation in Perivolia, Rethymno.
