In brief
Wildfires on the Greek island of Salamina broke out almost simultaneously, claiming two lives and prompting the evacuation of about 500 residents by sea. Roughly 200 firefighters and 50 engines, plus water tankers, were deployed to contain the blazes, which were fueled by strong winds and sparked at two separate points. The first blaze started near the south coast and a second followed 20 minutes later in the east, yet no active front remains in the second fire. Emergency services have continued patrols and surveillance, and health officials report additional burn injuries. The incident follows a broader wave of European wildfires this week, highlighting the region’s vulnerability to dry conditions and extreme heat.
Twin Wildfires Blaze Salamina, Two Deaths Reported
Two fierce wildfires broke out almost simultaneously on Salamina island near Athens, killing a married couple and leading authorities to evacuate roughly five‑hundred residents by sea.
Around 200 firefighters arrived on the island amid high winds, and 50 engines, water tankers and construction machinery were deployed to keep the blazes from merging over the inland mountain and turning into a single high‑intensity fire.
The first fire was reported at 14:40 local time in the forested residential area of Peristeria, spreading rapidly. Twenty minutes later a second blaze ignited in the eastern town of Selinia and later showed no active front.
Coast guard vessels and a fire‑department ship remain on the perimeter awaiting further flames, while two coast‑guard boats patrol the waters.
Emergency services have treated at least ten people for smoke inhalation and burns, five of whom were taken to local hospitals.
The Health Minister on X reported the injuries and set up a dedicated medical response.
This incident follows a pattern of air‑mass‑driven wildfires across Europe this weekend, from the Hautes Fagnes reserve in Belgium to a catastrophic blaze on Croatia’s coastline. Climate‑service alerts have warned of the hottest early summer in the western Mediterranean.
The island, with a population of about 37,000, most residents being elderly, is situated west of Athens. Fire crews have remained on the island, monitoring for re‑ignitions and ensuring that infrastructure stays intact while the area recovers.
