Two dead as twin wildfires erupt on Greek island Salamina

Two people were killed and more than 500 residents evacuated by sea on Sunday after twin wildfires broke out almost simultaneously on the Greek island of Salamina, located just west of Athens, officials confirmed.

Two fires in quick succession

The first blaze ignited at around 14:40 local time (11:40 GMT) near the southern coast of the island, spreading rapidly in strong winds. A second fire followed roughly 20 minutes later in the eastern town of Selinia. Greek authorities said both fires appear to have started within a densely forested and residential zone. The cause of the fires has not yet been established.

Firefighters found two bodies at the scene of the first blaze. At least ten people were treated for burns or smoke inhalation, five of whom required medical attention at local facilities, Health Minister Adonis Georgiades reported.

Massive emergency response

Approximately 200 firefighters were deployed to contain the blazes and prevent them from merging. Five patrol boats, 50 fire engines, and several aircraft were brought in. Private vessels were also made available to assist with sea evacuations, bringing the total number of people evacuated so far to over 500.

Salamina Deputy Mayor Thodoris Zannis said crews were focused on keeping the fires from crossing a central ridge that divides the island, which would cause the two fires to converge into a single, far more dangerous blaze. Construction machinery and water tankers were deployed alongside firefighting personnel.

Island with 37,000 residents

Salamina is home to approximately 37,000 people, many of them elderly. The island sits just west of Piraeus, the main port of Athens. Sunday saw elevated wildfire risk conditions across the broader Attica region.

The situation in Salamina is part of a wider pattern of intense wildfires across southern Europe this weekend. In Belgium, firefighters were entering a third consecutive day battling the country’s largest recorded wildfire in Hautes Fagnes. In south Wales, more than 200 military personnel were deployed to support crews tackling at least 14 separate fires.