Two killed as massive blazes force mass evacuation on Greek island near Athens
Two people died and hundreds were evacuated as fires raged on Salamis island on August 16.
On August 16, simultaneous wildfires erupted in the popular Peristeria and Selinia coastal areas of Salamis, an island close to Athens. A fire department spokesman reported that two bodies were recovered from the Peristeria beach site, prompting evacuation orders for hundreds of bathers and permanent residents. The civil protection ministry issued four rapid evacuation directives as the fire spread through inhabited zones.
Around 200 firefighters, nearly 50 fire engines, six aircraft and seven helicopters were mobilized, with reinforcements arriving from the mainland. Police helped channel traffic on the few open roads, and the coastguard deployed five patrol boats, supplemented by private vessels and two fire service boats. Deputy mayor Thodoris Zannis said officials were working to prevent the two fires from joining on a nearby mountain, while the fire service continued battling the difficult blaze within a populated area.
Why it matters
The incident underscores Greece's rising wildfire danger amid extreme heat and strong winds, affecting public safety.
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