Amari

The Ministry of Civil Protection on Friday declared a state of emergency in the municipalities of Agia Paraskevi, Agios Ioannis, Ano Meros and Apodoulou in the municipality of Amari in Rethymno on Crete.

According to the decision signed by the general secretary of civil protection, Vassilis Papageorgiou, the state of emergency will be in effect until September 9.

A fire in Rethymno on the southern island of Crete has been contained after more than 300 firefighters worked through the night to control the blaze, authorities reported on Friday.

Firefighting aircraft were deployed at first light, with four water-dropping helicopters remaining in the area to manage any potential flare-ups.

An ongoing fire that broke out yesterday at noon in Rethymno, Crete. In particular, shortly before 3.30pm the main front is east of Agia Paraskevi towards Vathiakos.

Authorities on Crete on Friday seemed no closer to a solution to the conundrum of what to do with a 2-meter crocodile spotted at the Potami Dam on the Amari plain.

Dubbed Manolios or Sifis by its growing number of fans, the crocodile may not pose a direct threat yet, but it is a predator and should be viewed with caution, according to experts.

US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said permanently stationing an additional U.S. Army brigade in Europe is among options to beef up security in the region. 

This is just one of the measures, as Russian troops remain massed along Ukraine’s eastern border.