Two Dead, Several Injured as Wildfires Sweep Greek Island of Salamina
Wildfires Devastate Salamina During Peak Holiday Weekend
Casualties and Injuries Reported
ATHENS, Aug 16 (Reuters) - Two people died and several others were injured on Sunday as fast-moving wildfires swept through the Greek island of Salamina west of Athens on the biggest holiday weekend of the summer, authorities said.
Wildfires Across Europe
Across Europe, successive heatwaves have intensified drought, strained water supplies and left vegetation tinder-dry, helping wildfires in Spain, France and Greece scorch near unprecedented amounts of land.
Evacuation Efforts and Emergency Response
Evacuation Operations
An operation is underway to evacuate people from the areas of Kolones and Saterli, the Fire Department said. It added that it believed the dead bodies were a couple.
Impact on Local Communities
The blaze erupted during Greece's peak summer getaway weekend around the August 15 Assumption holiday, when large numbers of Athenians head to nearby islands such as Salamina which is easily accessible from the capital's main port of Piraeus.
Houses have been damaged, while five people have been taken to a local health clinic, according to local reports.
Firefighting Resources Deployed
Personnel and Equipment
About 192 firefighters, 14 aircraft and helicopters, volunteer crews and municipal water tankers deployed to contain the blazes. Authorities said strong winds were making the flames spread rapidly.
Sea Evacuation Preparations
Coast guard and firefighting vessels were sent to the island, with preparations made for possible sea evacuations from threatened coastal areas.
Ongoing Risks and Recent Wildfire Incidents
Wildfire Risk and Investigation
Salamina was under a high wildfire risk warning on Sunday. The cause of the fires was not immediately known.
Recent Wildfires in Greece
The fires come days after tourists and residents fled villages in the Halkidiki region of northern Greece as a wildfire fanned by strong winds engulfed houses and trees near a resort.
(Reporting by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Christina Fincher)
