Wildfires kill two and force mass evacuation on Greek island near Athens
Two people died and more than 570 weekend beachgoers were evacuated by sea on Sunday after two fast-moving wildfires broke out within 20 minutes of each other on the Greek island of Salamis, just a short boat ride from Athens. The deaths and evacuations underscore the growing threat of climate-driven wildfires across southern Europe, a pattern that carries urgent lessons for fire-prone regions worldwide.
What happened on Salamis island?
The fires erupted near Peristeria and Selinia, two popular beaches in the island's south and east. The Greek fire department said the blazes spread with alarming speed, driven by winds reaching 61 kilometers per hour. In a televised address, fire department communications director Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said the fire at Peristeria spread completely in seven minutes, before firefighters could reach the scene.
Two victims, reportedly an elderly couple, were found dead in the Peristeria beach area. Nine other people required medical care for burns, according to the state agency ANA. Greek television footage showed several homes destroyed by the flames.
How did the evacuation unfold?
The civil protection ministry issued four evacuation orders in quick succession as hundreds of people enjoyed a sunny Sunday at the beach. Coast guard patrol boats and other vessels rescued more than 570 people from the shoreline, a coastguard spokeswoman told AFP.
Deputy mayor of Salamis, Thodoris Zannis, told ERT TV that firefighters managed to prevent the Selinia blaze from scaling a mountain and merging with the Peristeria fire. The Selinia fire was brought under control by evening, while scattered pockets of fire remained at Peristeria.
What is the broader wildfire situation in Greece?
Greece has been hit with several major wildfires since late July, fueled by unusually strong winds and drought conditions. The fire service mobilized a large force of some 260 firefighters, nearly 60 engines, 10 aircraft and seven helicopters to battle the Salamis fires, with reinforcements rushed in from the mainland.
On the island of Skyros, firefighters largely contained a separate blaze that started Saturday and burned approximately 1,300 hectares of forest. The same northwestern part of the island had been struck by fires in 2008 and 2014.
According to the fire department, 36 blazes broke out across Greece in the 24 hours leading up to Sunday evening. 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.
Why are these fires becoming more dangerous?
Experts say the risk of wildfires is growing because of human-fuelled climate change, which has made droughts and other extreme weather events more severe, frequent and longer-lasting. After largely escaping the heatwave temperatures that blanketed much of Europe earlier this summer, Greece has faced a punishing fire season.
Winds were expected to ease later Sunday. For the first time in 10 days, no area of Greece will be above 3 out of 5 on the national fire risk scale on Monday, according to the civil protection ministry.
Greece is hit by wildfires every year, but the intensity and speed of recent blazes highlight the urgent need for investment in fire prevention, early warning systems and climate adaptation, priorities that resonate well beyond Europe's borders.
Frequently asked questions about the Salamis wildfires
How many people died in the Salamis fires?
Two people, reportedly an elderly couple, died in the Peristeria beach area before firefighters could reach them.
How many people were evacuated from the beaches?
Over 570 people were evacuated by coast guard patrol boats and other vessels from the affected beaches on Salamis.
What caused the fires to spread so quickly?
Winds reaching up to 61 kilometers per hour drove the fire to spread completely in seven minutes, according to the fire department.
Are the fires on Salamis under control now?
The Selinia blaze was put out by Sunday evening, while scattered pockets of fire remained at Peristeria, according to a fire department spokesman.