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.

Firefighters in Turkey continue to battle wildfires in the Aegean coastal province of İzmir while authorities in neighboring Greece have brought similar fires under control

Early on Friday afternoon, at least two water bombers and two helicopters were battling flames fanned by strong winds blowing across Attica, the Athens region, and the capital itself.