Greece intercepts over 500 migrants near Crete, taking emergency actions due to rising Mediterranean crossings from Libya. The influx has overwhelmed local facilities, prompting the suspension of asylum processing for three months.

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

The coast guard noted 7,300 asylum-seekers have reached Crete and a nearby island this year, up from fewer than 5,000 in 2024. More than 2,500 arrivals have been recorded since June alone.

ATHENS (Reuters) -Gale force wind gusts complicated efforts on Friday to contain wildfires on Crete that have razed forests and olive groves and forced thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate.

A group of migrants arrived directly onto a beach in southern Crete amidst bewildered bathers, highlighting the escalating migration crisis.

As Greece announces a three-month pause on accepting asylum applications from people arriving by sea from North Africa, and plans to immediately detain those reaching Greece via the Mediterranean Sea,

Firefighters battled a blaze Thursday on the island of Crete that scorched forests and olive groves and forced over 1,000 to evacuate, while a fresh conflagration near Athens threatened homes, highlighting Greece's vulnerability to wildfire risks.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Wednesday harsher measures to address migrant flow from Libya. Addressing the parliament amid a significant surge in migrant arrivals to Crete island from Libya, Mitsokakis said the situation Greece faces requires "requires extraordinary measures."