Greek lawmakers have voted to temporarily halt asylum requests from North African migrants arriving by sea, a decision criticized by rights groups as illegal. The move follows a surge in migrants reaching Crete and marks a tightening of Greece’s migration policies under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government.

Is it safe to travel to Crete? Your holiday rights as wildfires rip through Greek island - Firefighters continue to battle the blaze in its second day after authorities said it's hard to contain

Wind and dry conditions raise the risk that blazes might restart in areas of the island where they had already been contained.

Firefighters struggled to gain control over a massive wildfire burning on the Greek island of Crete, as powerful winds fanned the flames.

Most of those fleeing the blaze were tourists. Firefighters struggled against heavy winds to bring the flames under control.

Crete is ready to welcome tourists as normal following last week’s wildfire, which prompted the evacuation of around 1,500 visitors and residents, authorities have insisted.

Nikos Xylouris, nicknamed Psaronikos, (July 7, 1936- February 8, 1980), was a singer and an icon of Crete, Greece.

Firefighters were on alert on the island of Crete on Friday (July 4) after a wildfire razed forests and olive groves and forced thousands of residents and tourists to leave affected areas for two days. Farmer Giorgos Poulis said the damages to his farm equipment and trees were "incalculable."