Two Dead, Hundreds Evacuated as Wildfires Ravage Greek Island of Salamis
Two people have died and more than 570 holidaymakers were evacuated from beaches on the Greek island of Salamis, near Athens, after two separate wildfires broke out within 20 minutes of each other on Sunday afternoon. The Greek fire department confirmed that the bodies of two individuals, reportedly an elderly couple, were recovered from the Peristeria beach area in the south of the island.
According to a coastguard spokeswoman, hundreds of weekend bathers were ferried to safety on patrol boats and other vessels as flames swept through popular coastal areas. The civil protection ministry issued four evacuation orders in quick succession as the fires spread rapidly in strong winds reaching up to 61 kilometres per hour.
What caused the rapid spread of the fires on Salamis?
Fire department communications director Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said the fires broke out near Peristeria and Selinia, two popular beaches, and spread with alarming speed. In a televised address, he noted that the blaze advanced rapidly within seven minutes due to the gusty conditions, making it difficult for emergency services to reach the victims in time.
Nine people required medical care for burns, according to the state agency ANA. Greek television footage showed several homes gutted by the flames, while firefighters battled through rocky terrain to prevent the Selinia fire from scaling a mountain and merging with the Peristeria blaze.
How did emergency services respond to the wildfires?
The fire service mobilised a substantial force of approximately 260 firefighters, nearly 60 engines, 10 aircraft and seven helicopters, with reinforcements rushed in from the mainland. By evening, the Selinia blaze had been extinguished, although scattered pockets of fire remained at Peristeria, a fire department spokesman told AFP.
Salamis's deputy mayor, Thodoris Zannis, told ERT TV that firefighters managed to keep the two fires separate, preventing a larger conflagration. The coordinated response underscored the seriousness of the situation, as Greece continues to grapple with an intense wildfire season.
What is the broader context of wildfires in Greece?
Greece has experienced several major wildfires since late July, fuelled by unusually strong winds and dry conditions. A separate blaze on the Aegean island of Skyros was largely contained, though a local forestry official said it had burned some 1,300 hectares of forest. The same northwestern part of Skyros had been struck by fires in 2008 and 2014.
The fire department reported that 36 blazes had broken out across the country in the past 24 hours. Five firefighters have died so far this season, including a Danish pilot killed in a mid-air collision between two helicopters while battling a blaze near Athens earlier this month.
What are the long-term risks of wildfires in Greece?
Greece is hit by wildfires every year, but experts say the risk is growing because of human-fuelled climate change, which has made droughts and other extreme weather events more severe, frequent and longer-lasting. The latest fires come as Europe battles a succession of blazes in tinderbox-like conditions, driven by widespread droughts and high temperatures.
Winds were expected to ease later on Sunday, and the civil protection ministry said no area would be above 3 out of 5 on the national fire risk scale on Monday, the first time in 10 days. While the immediate danger may be receding, the broader pattern of intensifying wildfire seasons remains a pressing concern for the region.