In brief
Sunday afternoon saw two separate wildfires erupt almost simultaneously on Greece’s Salamina island, threatening a combined blaze that could have engulfed the western cliffside. Roughly one hundred and twenty firefighters and two hundred water‑tankers were dispatched to prevent the flames from merging and to protect the island’s 37,000 residents, many elderly. The first fire, near the south coast, spread rapidly thanks to gale‑force winds, and the second ignited in the east a few minutes later. Local officials recovered two bodies near Peristeria and a couple has been identified as the victims. By evening, the eastern blaze was under control but evacuations continued, with about five hundred people leaving by boat.
Sunday afternoon saw two separate wildfires erupt almost simultaneously on Greece’s Salamina island. The blazes threatened a combined blaze that could have engulfed the western cliffside.
Roughly one hundred and twenty firefighters and two hundred water‑tankers were dispatched to prevent the flames from merging and to protect the island’s 37,000 residents, many elderly. They also kept two coast guard vessels and a fire‑department boat on station for surveillance.
The first fire, near the south coast, spread rapidly thanks to gale‑force winds; it broke out at 14:40 local time. The second ignited in the east a few minutes later and was later described as having "no active front".
Local officials recovered two bodies near Peristeria, identified as a couple. The city’s mayor reported the couple’s deaths to Greek media.
By evening, the eastern blaze was under control, but evacuations continued. About five hundred residents left by sea to escape the smoke and heat.
