Greek Island Faces Tragedy as Dual Wildfires Ravage Salamina

Sun Sep 06 2026 04:23:27 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Two people died as wildfires erupted on Salamina, Greece, prompting evacuations and emergency response.

The island of Salamina near Athens was struck by two simultaneous wildfires that claimed two lives and forced the evacuation of around 90 residents. Roughly 200 firefighters and multiple aircraft, engines, and boats were deployed to combat the blazes. High winds and a pre‑existing wildfire risk compounded the disaster, while local officials stretched to keep the fires from merging into a larger conflagration.

Greek Island Faces Tragedy as Dual Wildfires Ravage Salamina

Two fatalities have been reported and evacuation efforts are underway after two wildfires ignited within minutes on the Greek island of Salamina, located just west of Athens.

According to fire officials, almost 200 firefighters worked to suppress the blazes and prevent them from merging. Staff also deployed about 50 fire engines, several aircraft and patrol boats to the scene.

The first fire broke out at 14:40 local time, spreading fast due to high winds and a high threat level that the island was on Sunday. Officials say the second flare erupted shortly thereafter.

The senior mayor of Salamina, Thodoris Zannis, said officers were trying to keep the fires from crossing the mountain on the island and uniting into a single large wildfire.

The island has roughly 37,000 residents, many of them elderly, said the mayor. Evacuation by sea has seen about 90 people moved to safety, Coast Guard spokesman confirmed.

European crews faced several hot‑weather ignitions this weekend, as high temperatures fed the flames.