Crete

Greece has suspended processing of asylum applications from people arriving by sea from North Africa since July.

More than 120 refugees and migrants have been intercepted off the island of Crete, according to Greek authorities, the latest in a series of arrivals of people making perilous journeys to Europe from North Africa despite a suspension of asylum claims and a concerted push for tougher detention rules.

Two boats, carrying 58 and 68 people and believed to have departed from Libya, were stopped on Monday, and their passengers were placed under guard at temporary shelters. More than 100 other refugees and migrants arrived on Crete over the weekend after strong winds eased.

Greece’s conservative government last month suspended all asylum claims for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa, a move it argued helped deter crossings that peaked in July at more than 2,500 in a single week.

The ban passed in parliament amid a surge in asylum seekers reaching Crete and after talks with Libya’s Benghazi-based government to stem the flow were cancelled acrimoniously in July.

It also marked a further hardening of Greece’s stance towards refugees and migrants under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s government, which has built a fence at its northern land borders and boosted sea patrols since it came to power in 2019.

The government remains at odds with regional authorities in Crete over a plan to build a permanent transit facility on the island. It is preparing draft legislation that would mandate imprisonment for people whose asylum claims are denied and require ankle monitors during a 30-day compliance period before deportation.

Earlier this month, at least 26 people died after two boats sank off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.

That disaster, also involving people travelling from Libya, was the latest to befall refugees and migrants making the perilous Mediterranean crossing from Africa to Europe.

Rights groups and United Nations agencies have also documented systematic abuse against refugees and migrants in Libya, including torture, rape and extortion. In February, Libyan authorities uncovered nearly 50 bodies from two mass graves in the country’s southeastern desert, in the latest horror involving people seeking to make it to Europe through the North African country.

Since the beginning of this year, 675 people have died in the central Mediterranean while trying to make the crossing, Filippo Ungaro, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Italy, recently said.

No casualties in Greece as fires in southern Crete and the port of Rafina are put out; two die after blaze in western Turkiye.

A wildfire on the Greek island of Crete that forced the evacuation of 5,000 people has been extinguished, officials say.

Some 230 firefighters and six helicopters worked at the scene near the resort town of Ierapetra, where residents had to leave their homes and visitors their accommodation on Wednesday evening.

Reporting from the nearby village of Agia Fotia, Al Jazeera’s John Psaropoulos said there was “no active fire front” by Friday morning. Still, he added, helicopters were operating in the area to ensure there were no flare-ups.

The fire left forest trees and some olive trees burned but caused no casualties. Two local MPs told Al Jazeera efforts were under way for the return of the people who were evacuated after the blaze broke out.

Elsewhere in mainland Greece, a fire fanned by strong winds that erupted near the port town of Rafina, about 30km (18 miles) east of the capital, Athens, was brought under control on Thursday evening, authorities said.

However, firefighting crews remained on alert as winds remained strong.

The fire, which led to the evacuation of 300 people, destroyed a few houses and vehicles, local mayor Dimitris Markou told public broadcaster ERT.

It also disrupted ferries to and from tourist islands in the western Aegean Sea.

Greece has so far been spared the heatwave roasting parts of Europe, particularly Spain, Portugal and France. But starting this weekend, temperatures will rise and reach up to 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas of the country.

Two dead in Turkiye

Meanwhile, in neighbouring Turkiye, a local forestry worker was killed while trying to contain a fire near the western town of Odemis, while an 81-year-old resident died from smoke inhalation, authorities said.

These were the first deaths in a series of wildfires that have forced thousands of people to flee.

Separately, hundreds of firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, were deployed to battle a wildfire near the Aegean coastal town of Cesme, a popular vacation destination about 190km (120 miles) west of Odemis.

That fire, which began on Wednesday, forced the evacuation of three neighbourhoods and led to road closures. Television footage showed flames racing through dry vegetation on both sides of a highway.

Over the past week, Turkiye has battled hundreds of wildfires fuelled by strong winds, extreme heat and low humidity.

The blazes have damaged or destroyed about 200 homes.

Hot dry weather is not unusual for Greece and Turkiye at this time of year. Devastating summer wildfires are common in both countries, with experts warning that climate change is intensifying conditions.

July 3 (UPI) — As many as 1,500 people were evacuated from areas of the Greek island of Crete as wildfires burned out of control, fanned by gale-force winds, authorities said.

The fire, centered in the far southeast of the island, broke out in a forested area Wednesday, rapidly spreading toward the town of Ierapetra, forcing authorities to order residents and tourists in five surrounding settlements to move.

Some people whose escape routes were cut off by the fire had to be rescued from beaches by boat. At least four elderly people were hospitalized with respiratory problems due to smoke inhalation.

Displaced people were provided with makeshift accommodation in Ierapetra in an indoor sports center or hotel rooms, where available.

More than 150 firefighters, 38 fire trucks and four helicopters dropping water were deployed with two specialist forest-firefighting units from the Greek mainland en route to the scene to provide back-up.

That number rose to more than 230 on Thursday, but firefighters, facing a wall of flames almost four miles across with visibility down to zero, were forced into a tactical retreat for safety reasons and to focus on firebreaks to protect settlements being threatened by the fire.

Homes and rental properties in the beachfront village of Agia Fotia, 8 miles east of Ierapetra, have been destroyed and the settlement and surrounding area were without power.

The fire service, which has been issuing alerts and evacuation instructions via mobile phone messaging, warned in its daily update that the risk of wildfires remained high across Crete and parts of southern Greece.

The emergency on Crete came after authorities in Turkey’s nearby Izmur region evacuated 50,000 people in the face of wildfires in recent days.

Scientists have designated the Mediterranean, including much of Greece, a “wildfire hotspot” as blazes become ever more frequent and destructive during hot, parched summers. Governments of the affected countries say the climate crisis is the cause.

All of Europe is currently sweltering in a deadly heatwave with temperatures topping out at 46 degrees Celsius in southern Spain and 40 degrees Celsius in Paris, although temperatures in the eastern Mediterranean held closer to normal in the high 20s to low 30s degrees Celsius.

Spain, Italy and France recorded at least eight deaths connected to the extreme heat.

The blaze comes as southern Europe contends with an acute summer heatwave which has killed people in several countries.

A wildfire on the Greek island of Crete has led to the evacuation of more than 1,500 people, local media outlets have reported, as an early summer heatwave continues to grip southern Europe.

At least 230 firefighters, some dispatched from Athens, were attempting on Thursday to contain the blaze, which broke out on Wednesday evening near Ierapetra, a town on the island’s southeastern coast.

Elsewhere, a wildfire killed at least two people in the northeast Spanish region of Catalonia, and heat-related deaths have also been recorded in France and Italy this week.

Spread by gale-force winds, the blaze on Crete reached houses and hotels, according to local authorities, who said dozens of residents and tourists had been evacuated to an indoor stadium in Ierapetra.

“Three settlements were evacuated and more than 1,000 left their homes. Some were taken to health centres with respiratory problems,” George Tsapakos, Crete’s deputy civil protection governor, told public broadcaster ERT.

Meanwhile, Vice-Prefect Yannis Androulakis confirmed that the blaze, which currently has “three active fronts”, had spread quickly because of strong winds.

“There are still a number of different fronts. The fire is burning scrubland and crops,” he said. “The winds are very strong – up to nine on the Beaufort scale.”

In an interview with the TV channel Mega, Androulakis added that water bomber planes were unable to reach the affected areas overnight.

Drones and 10 helicopters were also being used to fight the fire, according to a spokesperson for the Greek fire service.

In its daily bulletin on Thursday, the fire service warned that the risk of wildfires in Crete and southern Greece remained very high.

Last year, Greece experienced its warmest summer ever, with 45,000 hectares (111,200 acres) torched by wildfires, according to WWF Greece and the Athens National Observatory.

Even more land was damaged in 2023, when almost 175,000 hectares (432,400 acres) were affected by wildfires as temperatures hit 46 degrees Celsius (115 degrees Fahrenheit).

LICK is currently the biggest club event in London for WLW, hosting nights “for women, by women”. With regular events in the capital, they have decided to take their sapphic army global for the second consecutive year.

The LICK Weekender brought partygoers to the Greek island of Crete for a weekend of new friendships, blossoming relationships and unforgettable memories. With 500 attendees from around the world – from the UK to Japan, Kenya to Australia – guests brought some (much-needed) POC queer joy to the island.

As hosts of the event tell Gay Times, “LICK is for all queer women, but running a truly diverse event requires intention.” With a focus on de-centring whiteness in queer culture, LICK is committed to putting diversity at the forefront.

Below, founder Teddy Edwardes reflects on the landmark event and shares her thoughts on the importance of intentional diversity in the queer nightlife space.

Firstly, how was the event? Tell us about any standout moments or highlights from the weekend?

The entire weekend was a 10/10 from start to finish. Everyone was glowing with joy! So many new friendships, relationships and lifelong memories were made. It felt really special.

Do you know how many people were in attendance?

500 people attended! And there were women from all over the world. The top ten list of countries included the United Kingdom, United States, Tunisia, Kenya and Australia, but there were also women from The Caribbean, Egypt, Canada and Japan!

GREECE has been struck by a horror 6.1-magnitude earthquake with tremors being felt across Turkey and Israel.

Fears are now growing that a major tsunami could hit the popular Brit holiday islands of Crete and Santorini.

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The Greek government has issued a national directive ordering people to stay safe as they continue to asses the quake and any potential aftershocks.

The national fire brigade are also now on high alert for any casualties, major damage or rescue operations which need to be carried out.

As of yet no injuries have been reported.

It comes just over a week after terrified Brits were told to immediately evacuate coastal regions of Greece amid tsunami fears.

A 6.3-magnitude quake struck both Crete and Rhodes overnight and quickly sparked panic among holidaymakers and locals.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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The magnitude of the earthquake has since been updated to 6.0 as a tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake struck near the coast of Crete, which is the most populous of the Greek islands

Holidaymakers in Crete have been warned to steer clear of coastal areas amid tsunami concerns following an earthquake.

An urgent tsunami alert was sounded on the Greek island this morning after a significant 5.9 magnitude tremor hit near the coast of Crete, Greece‘s most densely populated island. The Ministry for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Greece subsequently announced: “A magnitude 5.9 earthquake occurred 48km SE of Kasos. Risk of possible Tsunami in your area. Move away from the coast immediately. Follow the instructions of Local Authorities.”

The quake’s magnitude has been revised to 6.0 since the initial reports. Coastal alerts were issued this morning in regions frequented by holidaymakers from all over Europe, including Brits.

For those with travel plans to Greece who are reconsidering their trip in light of the earthquake, it’s crucial to understand your legal position and refund entitlements.

Have you been impacted by the earthquake? Email [email protected]

READ MORE: Greece earthquake: TUI sends honeymoon duo terrifying ‘get to high ground’ alert hours after landing

This issue is particularly pertinent at present, as several top European holiday spots have recently been affected by natural calamities, power outages, and social unrest, prompting many travellers to think about cancelling their forthcoming holidays.

This advisory follows a recent caution from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to tourists planning trips to Turkey after a 6.2-magnitude quake struck Istanbul on April 23.

The FCDO has issued a warning that “many parts of Turkey regularly experience earthquakes and ‎tremors”, cautioning that these natural events can be “high magnitude, cause damage to infrastructure, and pose ‎a risk to life”. ‎.

In other news, Spain and Portugal have been plunged into disarray due to an unexpected blackout, leaving millions, including British holidaymakers, in chaos.

Tourists flocking to Spanish destinations like the Balearic and Canary Islands are being alerted about possible upsets this summer, as local activist groups are set to intensify their anti-tourism demonstrations.

With travel abroad currently fraught with unpredictability, the specialists at Tiger.co.uk are advising Brits to verify cancellation policies with their travel insurers if they’re considering pulling out of their plans and seeking reimbursement.

Regrettably, standard insurance packages typically don’t cover travellers who simply decide against going on their trip – a situation referred to as ‘disinclination to travel’ within the insurance industry, where providers usually won’t compensate.

However, there’s an important caveat: when the FCDO advises against travel to a particular area, such as it has done for regions of Turkey within 10km of the Syrian border due to “fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism”, travel companies are obligated to offer either a full refund or alternative arrangements. It’s vital to note that travelling to a location against FCDO advice is likely to nullify any travel insurance coverage.

As of 11am on May 14, the FCDO has yet to issue guidance on the earthquake that struck Greece.

Ian Wilson, a travel insurance specialist and managing director at Tiger.co.uk, commented: “While the chances of being caught up in a natural disaster or civil unrest while abroad are relatively small, it is understandable that some travellers will have concerns about safety and potential disruption to their holidays this summer and may be thinking of cancelling their trip.”

He warned that: “However – unless the UK Foreign Office has issued official advice against travel to your chosen destination – you will most likely be left out of pocket if you choose to cancel, as tour operators or insurance providers are not obligated to refund you for having a change of heart.”

He further explained that: “Most standard travel insurance policies contain cancellation cover which provides cover if your holiday can’t go ahead, but this will only apply in circumstances beyond your control, such as a sudden illness or the death of a close relative.”

Stressing the fallout of personal decisions, he said: “In short, if you decide you no longer want to travel but the provider says the trip can still go ahead, you will have limited grounds to seek reimbursement.”

For those still anxious about travelling, Wilson advised: “However, if you have a trip booked and are still worried about travelling, you may want to consider looking into travel disruption insurance, which offers protection for a wider range of risks, should the unexpected happen.

“This means that if your holiday is impacted by a natural disaster, an outbreak of civil unrest or sudden airline strike, you are likely to be protected financially.

“When planning your holiday abroad, it is important to do some research to ensure your intended destination is safe for tourists. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has a red list of over 70 countries that have no-go zones for UK travellers, and visiting these areas could invalidate your travel insurance.

“Always make sure you check the destination on the FCDO website and look out for any warnings against travel before you book a trip.”

AN EARTHQUAKE of magnitude 6.3 has hit the holiday hotspot island of Crete, Greece.

The quake was at a depth of 83km, the German Research Centre for Geosciences said.

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Citizens in Israel have reported feeling shockwaves from the earthquake, especially in the centre of the country including Tel Aviv, The Jerusalem Post reports.

It comes after the idyllic Greek island of Santorini was plunged into a state of emergency in February as a total of 7,700 tremors shook the isle in two weeks.

Around 7,700 earthquakes have shaken the Santorini-Amorgos seismic zone since January 26.

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.