This week's heatwave continues to cause fires in southern Europe. Near the city of Ierapetra on Crete's south coast, large forest fires are raging on Thursday. Swedish Ia Löfquist lives in the city, about a mile from the fires, and is waiting anxiously.
The only thing you can do is to keep yourself updated – and wait, wait and wait, she says to TT on Thursday.
According to the local rescue service, the fire has spread to three areas at the same time as strong winds are making the rescue work more difficult.
They create constant new sources of fire, says Yannis Vathrakoyannis, spokesperson for the rescue service to Kathimerini.
Dare not sleep
Local authorities ordered the evacuation of both hotels and residences in several of the city's surrounding areas on Wednesday evening. About 5,000 people have been evacuated so far, and several tourists have had to spend the night in a basketball arena.
The night until Thursday, Ia Löfquist only slept for two hours.
When I stood on my balcony and saw the glow of the fire behind the mountains, I felt that I didn't dare go to bed, says Ia Löfquist.
Flee to the mountains
If the fire spreads to Ierapetra, she will go to her friend who lives in the mountains. She tells how everyone in the city is trying to help.
From when it broke out, people have taken their pickups with water tanks on the trailer, then driven out to the fire and asked "where can I help?".
Over 230 firefighters, 46 vehicles and ten helicopters are participating in the rescue work, which has been made more difficult by strong winds in the area.
The local rescue service has not had time to form an opinion on how many homes have burned down.
There is still no information about injured people.
