Two dead, hundreds evacuated from fires on island near Athens

Two people died and over 570 residents were evacuated when two fires erupted on the Greek island of Salamis near Athens on Sunday, the fire department reported. The fires occurred in less than half an hour, one in Peristeria beach and another near Selinia, both popular beaches on the south and east of the island. The civil protection ministry issued four evacuation orders in quick succession as winds reached speeds of up to 61 kilometers per hour, causing the blaze to spread rapidly.

Nine people required medical attention for burns, and nine bodies were recovered from the beaches. The fire was contained by the evening in Selinia, while scattered pockets of fire remained at Peristeria. Firefighters mobilized a large force of 260 firefighters, nearly 60 engines, 10 aircraft, and seven helicopters to contain the blaze.

The fire service had largely contained a blaze on the island of Skyros earlier, but several major wildfires have hit Greece since late July, fueled by strong winds and drought conditions linked to climate change.