Two dead, hundreds evacuated from fires on island near Athens

Two individuals were killed and hundreds were evacuated on Sunday as two wildfires erupted on the Greek island of Salamis near Athens, according to the fire department. Two bodies were recovered from the Peristeria beach area in the south of the island, while an evacuation order was issued for hundreds of bathers and permanent residents.

The civil protection ministry issued four evacuation orders in rapid succession as the fires ignited almost simultaneously in Peristeria and Selinia, popular bathing areas on the island's south and east. Firefighters faced a challenging situation, as the fires were occurring within inhabited areas. Some roads remained open, with police guiding people to safety.

The fire service deployed around 200 firefighters, nearly 50 engines, six aircraft, and seven helicopters, seeking reinforcements from mainland Greece. The coastguard dispatched five patrol boats, and private vessels, including ferries, were made available. Greece has experienced multiple major wildfires since late July, fueled by unusually strong winds.

Earlier this month, five firefighters died, including a Danish pilot who perished in a mid-air collision while battling a blaze near Athens.