Two dead and evacuation under way as fires break out on Greek island

Two people died and evacuations are underway after two fires broke out minutes apart on the Greek island of Salamina, located just west of Athens. Fire officials reported that roughly 200 firefighters were deployed to extinguish the flames and prevent them from merging. The first blaze was recorded at 14:40 local time (12:40 GMT) and spread rapidly owing to strong winds, according to island officials who noted the area was under a high wildfire hazard warning on Sunday. A coastguard spokesperson told Greek broadcaster ERT that about 90 individuals have been evacuated by sea. Five patrol boats have been dispatched to the scene, and several additional private vessels are being made available for assistance. A number of craft and 50 fire engines have been deployed to combat the fires. Salamina Deputy Mayor Thodoris Zannis said crews are working to keep the flames from climbing uphill and forming a single large wildfire. Salamina, home to approximately 37,000 residents—many of them elderly—has seen its emergency services stretched thin as firefighters across Europe contend with a series of weekend wildfires fueled by elevated temperatures.