Athens, August 17: A devastating wildfire on Salamina Island in Greece has resulted in the tragic deaths of two individuals, with four others injured. The Greek national broadcaster ERT reported that the bodies were discovered during firefighting operations on Sunday.
The unidentified victims were found near the area where the fire ignited around noon in the wild region of Peristeria. Another fire has also been reported in the Selinia area of the island, close to Athens and the Piraeus port.
According to Greece’s national news agency AMNA, the four injured individuals were transported to the hospital due to burn injuries. Strong winds have caused the flames to spread rapidly, prompting the deployment of 146 firefighters along with volunteers to combat the blaze.
News agency Xinhua reported that four water-dropping aircraft and six helicopters have been dispatched to assist in extinguishing the fire. Evacuation orders have been issued for nearby residents, and the Hellenic Coast Guard is on alert, with ships ready to provide assistance if necessary.
This wildfire outbreak comes at a time when Greece has been facing a heightened risk of forest fires over the past two weeks. Civil protection officials have warned of dangerous conditions in parts of mainland Greece and the Aegean Islands in the coming days. With the latest fatalities on Salamina, the total number of lives lost to wildfires in Greece this summer has risen to eight.
On August 2, two firefighting helicopters collided while battling a major wildfire in western Attica. The helicopters crashed near the coastal area of Psatha, leading to a large-scale rescue operation. One helicopter pilot reported that their co-pilot had sustained injuries.
–
K.K./D.K.P.
Leave a Comment