Two killed in large wildfire on Salamina island, Greece

Two people were found dead as crews fought a large wildfire on the Greek island of Salamina that spread rapidly under strong winds. Nine people with burn injuries were taken to hospital and authorities ordered preventive evacuations of six settlements.

Fire spread and casualties

Firefighters reported that two separate blazes ignited within a 15‑minute window at different points on the island — one in the southern part and the other in the east. The two bodies were discovered on a street close to the location where one of the fires began.

Ground teams battling the flames numbered 192 firefighters organised into ten foot teams and using 48 vehicles. Local volunteers and municipal water tankers also assisted the response.

Air assets were used intermittently, with six planes and eight helicopters deployed for aerial firefighting; one helicopter was assigned specifically for coordination of the operations.

Officials said the emergency number 112 issued six messages relating to the incident — two messages to inform residents and four messages ordering evacuations.

Authorities carried out evacuations by land and sea. Six settlements were evacuated as a precaution, and people caught on beaches were removed by boats and vessels from the Hellenic Fire Service and the Hellenic Coast Guard; 90 people have been moved to safe locations so far.

The wider fire zone also has six ambulances and two emergency motorcycles deployed to support medical response. Salamina, with about 37,000 inhabitants, is the largest island in the Saronic Gulf and lies close to Athens.

Photo: press material from the event