A pair of wildfires that erupted almost simultaneously on the Greek island of Salamina on Sunday afternoon has resulted in two deaths and the mass evacuation of hundreds of residents. The blazes, which occurred while the island was under a high wildfire risk, prompted a large-scale emergency response involving approximately 200 firefighters, 50 fire engines, and various aircraft, supported by water tankers and construction machinery.
The first fire was reported at 14:40 local time (11:40 GMT) near the island's southern coast in a forested residential area of Peristeria. Fire official Vasilios Vathrakoyannis confirmed that firefighters discovered two bodies at the scene, believed by the local mayor to be a couple. Rapidly fanned by high winds, the fire spread quickly, followed about 20 minutes later by a second blaze in the eastern town of Selinia. Deputy Mayor Thodoris Zannis noted that a primary objective for responders was to prevent the two fires from crossing a mountain and merging into a single, larger inferno.
By Sunday evening, authorities reported that the first blaze had been brought under control, while the second fire in Selinia was described as having no active front. Approximately 500 people were successfully evacuated from the island by sea throughout the day. Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiades stated on X that at least 10 individuals suffered burns or smoke inhalation, with five of those victims receiving local medical treatment. Coast guard and fire department vessels remain stationed in the area to provide ongoing surveillance and assistance as officials continue to monitor scattered hotspots. The cause of the fires remains under investigation.
