A fisherman who helped rescue dozens of people trapped by a fast-moving wildfire in southern Crete has described the dramatic operation, recalling towering flames, violent winds and desperate civilians stranded along the shoreline.
Nikos Matthaiakis, a fisherman from the coastal village of Agia Galini in the regional unit of Rethymno, said he immediately responded after being contacted by the Hellenic Coast Guard on the afternoon of the fire.
“We did our duty too,” he said. “The Coast Guard called me at around 4 p.m. and asked me to stand by. They needed help, and I gave it willingly. I went with my fishing boat, Agios Spyridon.”
Trapped Between Fire and Sea
Matthaiakis said the situation near Agios Pavlos was devastating. The wildfire had surrounded the area, engulfing a seaside tavern and tourist accommodations, while exploding gas cylinders added to the danger.
At the same time, rough seas and wind gusts reportedly reaching 160 kilometers per hour (about 99 mph) made rescue efforts extremely difficult. Around 30 people had become trapped on the beach with no escape route.
“It was suffocating because of the fire and smoke, and the winds were like a hurricane,” he said.
Familiar with the coastline, Matthaiakis managed to approach the beach with his fishing boat, accompanied by a Coast Guard officer.
“They were trapped in the corner of Agios Pavlos. Above them, the tavern and the accommodations were burning. Some gas cylinders exploded—we could hear the blasts. I approached with great difficulty. It wasn’t easy at all.”
Multiple Trips to Safety
Because of the boat’s limited capacity, Matthaiakis could not evacuate everyone at once. Several elderly people also struggled to board the vessel, forcing him to make repeated trips despite the dangerous conditions.
“There were about 30 people gathered there, including elderly people who couldn’t easily get onto the boat,” he said. “The weather was terrible. I carried people in three separate trips because my boat is small.”
The rescued civilians were first transported aboard the Agios Spyridon before being transferred to Hellenic Coast Guard vessels, identified as inflatable boat 1005 and patrol boat PLS 624. Despite the heavy seas, the evacuation was completed safely.
“I Never Want to Experience It Again”
Matthaiakis said the images from the rescue will stay with him forever.
“I’ve been a fisherman since I was born. My father was a fisherman too. We’ve lived through fires before, but I’d never seen people trapped on a beach like that. I never want to experience it again.”
He described watching people fear for their lives while their homes and businesses burned.
“It weighs heavily on your soul to see people desperately trying to survive while their property burns and gas cylinders explode. The reed roofs of the accommodations caught fire, and sparks were falling onto my boat. We had to put them out with a hose. Our boat could have caught fire too.”
The wildfire left extensive destruction across southern Rethymno and claimed the lives of two firefighters, Pantelis and Manolis, who died while battling the blaze.
