Two dead, 500 evacuated as twin fires hit Greek island

Two people died and about 500 were evacuated by sea after two wildfires broke out minutes apart on the Greek island of Salamina on Sunday, the fire department said. The first fire was reported at 2.40pm local time in Peristeria, a southern wooded residential area, where strong winds helped it spread quickly. About 20 minutes later, a second fire started in the eastern town of Selinia. Firefighters found two bodies in Peristeria, the local mayor told Greek media the dead were believed to be a couple, the Times of India reports.

Greek health minister Adonis Georgiades said at least 10 people suffered burns or smoke inhalation. About 200 firefighters, backed by 50 engines, aircraft, water tankers and construction machinery, worked to prevent the two fires from merging across a mountain, deputy mayor Thodoris Zannis said. Five patrol boats and several private vessels assisted the sea evacuation. By Sunday evening, one fire was under control and the evacuation had ended, though scattered fires remained in Peristeria, according to Greek media.

Salamina, home to about 37,000 people including many elderly residents, had been placed at high wildfire risk that day. The fires were part of a wider European outbreak, with major blazes also in Belgium, France, the UK, Germany and Croatia. Belgium's High Fens fire burned about 30 sq km, one of the country's worst on record, and prompted evacuation orders for about 600 residents. European countries activated the EU civil protection mechanism to request aircraft and helicopters.