Particle.news

Twin Wildfires Kill Two and Force Mass Evacuations on Salamina

Strong winds drove rapid fire spread that prompted sea and land evacuations and kept crews fighting a separate major blaze on Skyros.

Overview

  • Rescue teams found two bodies near Peristeria beach on Salamina and ordered the emergency evacuation of hundreds of residents and holidaymakers after two fires ignited almost simultaneously in populated coastal areas.
  • Authorities mobilized roughly 150–200 firefighters, about 40–50 fire trucks, multiple planes and helicopters, and called in reinforcements from the mainland to try to stop the blazes from joining.
  • The Hellenic Coast Guard deployed patrol vessels and coordinated maritime rescues, evacuating about 90 people by ship and using ferries and private boats to move those at risk to safety.
  • A large, separate wildfire continues to burn on Skyros, where firefighting teams conducted precautionary evacuations and kept a sustained aerial and ground response as winds complicated operations.
  • Officials reported dozens of new fires across Greece in the past 24 hours, noted five firefighter deaths earlier this season, and said winds were expected to ease with a drop in the national fire-risk index in the days ahead.