Two dead and evacuation under way as fires break out on Greek island
Nearly 200 firefighters are trying to keep the two fires on Salamina apart, Greek media report.
Two individuals have lost their lives and an evacuation is underway following two fires that ignited in rapid succession on the Greek island of Salamina, located near Athens. The flames were reported to have been fanned by strong winds, causing the fires to spread rapidly, according to local officials. The initial fire was spotted at 14:40 local time (12:40 GMT), igniting quickly and prompting an urgent response from emergency services.
As of now, around 90 residents have been evacuated by boat, with the assistance of coastguard vessels and private ships. The Greek coastguard has dispatched five patrol boats to the affected area, while several other private vessels have been made available for additional support. To combat the infernos, an impressive array of resources has been mobilized, including aircraft and 50 fire engines.
Salamina's deputy mayor, Thodoris Zannis, reported that firefighters are diligently working to prevent the fires from engulfing a nearby mountain and merging into a single, formidable wildfire.
Salamina, situated west of Athens, is home to approximately 37,000 inhabitants, a significant portion of whom are elderly. The island has been grappling with a series of wildfires this weekend, exacerbated by soaring temperatures. Firefighters from across Europe have been battling these blazes, which have been fueled by the intense heat.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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