Wildfire on Greek Island Kills Two, Prompts Evacuations Amid Strong Winds

A devastating wildfire on the Greek island of Salamina has claimed two lives, with authorities ordering the evacuation of multiple areas as a fierce battle against the blaze continues. The victims' bodies were discovered in the Peristeria region, though their identities remain unknown.

Firefighters, supported by aircraft and helicopters, are struggling to contain the fire, which is being fanned by strong winds. The blaze broke out almost simultaneously in the southern and eastern parts of the island. The civil protection agency issued multiple warnings via the 112 system, urging residents and bathers to leave threatened zones. A coordinated sea evacuation involving the coast guard is also underway.

"This is a difficult fire... in a populated area," stated Yiannis Artopios, deputy spokesperson for the fire service. Around 150 firefighters, 32 fire trucks, four planes, and six helicopters are engaged in the operation, assisted by volunteers and municipal vehicles. The high fire risk for the wider Athens area persists.

Meanwhile, on the island of Skiros in the Aegean Sea, firefighters are entering their second day battling another wildfire. That blaze prompted the evacuation of two small settlements, though the local mayor reported that populated areas were no longer under threat by Sunday. Approximately 100 firefighters and nearly a dozen aircraft are involved there. According to the Greek fire service, 34 fires erupted across the country in the past 24 hours. This year's fire season has already seen around 20,000 hectares of forest and agricultural land consumed by flames near Athens and on the islands of Crete and Paros. Tragically, five firefighters have died this season, including a Danish pilot killed in a helicopter collision while fighting a fire near Athens earlier this month.