Emergency services on the Greek island of Salamina responded to two separate wildfires on Sunday that erupted nearly simultaneously, resulting in two fatalities and the evacuation of approximately 500 people. The fires, which began in the afternoon, prompted a massive mobilization of roughly 200 firefighters, 50 fire engines, and various aircraft to prevent the two fronts from merging.
The first blaze was reported at 14:40 local time in the forested residential area of Peristeria, located on the island's southern coast. Fire official Vasilios Vathrakoyannis confirmed that two bodies were discovered at the scene; the local mayor indicated the victims were believed to be a couple. A second fire emerged approximately 20 minutes later in the eastern town of Selinia. While the cause of the incidents remains under investigation, high winds contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
Health Minister Adonis Georgiades reported that at least 10 individuals suffered injuries, including burns and smoke inhalation, with five requiring medical treatment. By Sunday evening, authorities had brought the fires under control, though surveillance vessels remain stationed in the area to monitor for flare-ups. The island, situated west of Athens, was under a high wildfire risk alert at the time of the events.
The incident on Salamina coincides with a broader trend of wildfires across Europe, including significant blazes in Belgium's Hautes Fagnes nature reserve and along the Croatian coastline, where one person was killed and 1,200 were evacuated. These events follow reports from the EU's Copernicus climate monitoring service, which identified the June-to-July period as the hottest on record for western Europe.
Source: BBC News
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