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.

Japan's economy minister Akira Amari said on Jan. 28 he was stepping down over graft allegations, dealing a major blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who faces a key leadership vote later this year.

A 3-meter-long crocodile that became a national celebrity in Greece after being discovered last summer in a lake in Crete has been found dead.

Cretan media reported that the crocodile, nicknamed Sifis by locals, was not able to survive the winter. The reptile will be transferred to a natural history museum, according to reports.

Sifis, everybody's favorite crocodile, keeps swimming care free in the waters around the river dams of Amari, Rethymnon.

So far he has become a T-shirt, a lighter, a toy flag, even a pizza brand. His latest achievement is becoming a folklore song!

Authorities on Crete were expected to convene on Thursday in their efforts to establish further action for the location of a 2-meter crocodile, known as "Sifis" or "Manolios", spotted at the Potami Dam on the island’s Amari plain earlier in the month.

While experts noted that the reptile did not pose a direct threat, it is a predator and should be treated with caution.

Authorities in Rethymno, Crete, urged locals and visitors to be on the alert after a 2-meter-long crocodile was spotted by a fire patrol close to the Potami Dam on the Amari plain over the weekend.

A team of experts was expected to launch a search for the reptile at the end of the week, while local authorities banned swimming and were fencing off the area.