Karin Caught in Crete Wildfires: A 'Titanic' Atmosphere

Karin Lokrantz's trip to Crete did not go as planned. She finds herself in the midst of intense wildfires, experiencing a 'Titanic-like' atmosphere.

Karin Lokrantz from Gothenburg has spent the past week at the Almyra Hotel, just outside Ilaptetra, where forest fires have raged in recent days.

On Wednesday, she and other tourists witnessed the fire starting.

"We saw yesterday how it started burning at the other end of the beach and up the valley. At first, there was a lot of smoke, and then we saw it start burning over the ridge. That's when the emergency alarms and messages from Apollo came," says Karin.

"Enough is Enough"

According to Karin, the information has been lacking, mostly stating that people should "await more information." But when the flames grew wilder towards the evening, Karin, along with a Norwegian family, decided to take a taxi to a hotel ten kilometers away to spend the night.

"When it burned from the mountain top down to the sea, it wasn't fun. And it gets even scarier when it's dark. That's when I felt enough is enough," says Karin.

On Thursday morning, Karin received a message that it was calm at her original hotel, and now she is back.

Ordering Drinks Amidst Panic

But the fires are not yet extinguished.

"There are five or six helicopters above, shuttling back and forth, water bombing."

At the hotel, there has been a 'Titanic-like' atmosphere, says Karin.

"Some order drinks at the bar, and others panic, children cry."

Although she doesn't feel scared or particularly worried, it has certainly been an unusual trip for Karin.

"It's not exactly what I had in mind," she says.