A large wildfire raged on Saturday near the city of Ierapetra on the southeast coast of Crete.

Local authorities urged citizens to evacuate as wildfires spread near the Schinokapsala site, with the emergency message hotline 112, sounding earlier in the day, prompting evacuations in the settlements of Achlia, Agia Fotia, Galini, and Mavros Kolymbos. Residents were instructed to leave their homes and head towards the Koutsouras area.

According to a local radio station, one house in the settlement of Mavros Kolymbos has been engulfed in flames. Firefighters’ efforts on the scene are hampered by strong winds blowing in the area.

According to local reports, one individual helping in firefighting was injured and transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for medical attention.