The fire on Salamis spread rapidly within seven minutes, and so far has claimed two lives, people with burns, and dozens who had to be rescued from the burning area, as stated by the Director of Strategic Planning and Communications at Fire Department Headquarters, Chief Fire Officer Vasileios Vathrakogiannis, in an emergency briefing held a short while ago regarding the two simultaneous fires.
The two civilians who tragically lost their lives were trapped by the flames before firefighters arrived on Andromachis Street, near the point where the fire started.According to reports, the victims of the fire were a couple aged 80–85.
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Mr. Vathrakogiannis noted that these were two fires that broke out almost simultaneously on a day with a fire danger rating of 4 and very strong winds, while at the same time making a dramatic appeal to citizens to strictly follow the instructions of the relevant authorities in the event of a fire.
Below is Mr. Vathrakogiannis’s full statement:
“Good evening from the Fire Department’s Operations Center.
Two fires broke out almost simultaneously on Salamina today, August 16, 2026. The first at 2:43 p.m. in the Peristeria area and the second at 3:03 p.m. in the Kaki Vigla Selinion area.
The fire in Peristeria broke out in a mixed residential and forest area near Andromachi Street. Unfortunately, two people lost their lives during the fire, before firefighters arrived on the scene. Their bodies were subsequently located by firefighters during the firefighting operation.
It should be noted that the Salamina area is currently at very high fire risk—category 4—and very strong winds are blowing in the area, with gusts reaching 7 Beaufort, a factor that helped the fire quickly reach dangerous proportions and spread rapidly within 7 minutes toward the nearest settlements, as seen in the first photos taken by surveillance drones at 2:46 p.m. and 2:50 p.m.
A total of 260 firefighters are responding, along with 15 forest firefighting teams, 58 vehicles, and numerous volunteer vehicles. For aerial firefighting efforts on both fires, 10 aircraft and 8 helicopters have been deployed and are operating periodically, one of which is dedicated to coordinating the operations.
Water tankers and heavy equipment from the Municipality of Salamina and the Region of Attica are assisting in the operation; in cooperation with the forestry service, they are clearing firebreaks.
Six alerts were issued by 112, both to inform residents and to evacuate those in the wider area of the settlements of Peristeria, Aias Klab, Kolones, DEI Chalioti, Perani, and Kaki Vigla—to guide them to safe locations.
At Saterli Beach, the vessels Mouzakitis, Karavasilis, and a Rafnar speedboat belonging to the Fire Department are on site, along with four vessels from the Coast Guard. The evacuation of swimmers is currently underway.
Greek Police forces are deployed throughout the area of the fire and are managing traffic. Similarly, personnel from the National Emergency Response Center are also deployed throughout the area, and so far, ambulances have picked up 4 people with burns and 1 elderly person, who were transported to the Salamina Health Center.
We urge all citizens, in the event of a fire, to strictly follow the instructions of the relevant authorities.
“Further updates will follow as new information becomes available.”
The National Ambulance Service (EKAV) is on high operational alert due to the ongoing fire. Its forces have been reinforced, and six ambulances, one Mobile Medical Unit, and two rapid-response motorcycles are currently operating in the field. A total of nine people with burns have been transported to the Salamina Health Center.
The number of residents who have been evacuated from the coastal areas of Saterli and Kolones on Salamina now stands at 364, as part of the large-scale evacuation operation due to the ongoing fires on the island.
According to the latest update from the Coast Guard, those evacuated have been transferred to three passenger-car ferries, which remain in the area to continue assisting with the operation.
The Hellenic Police (EL.AS.) has implemented traffic restrictions in Salamina due to the ongoing fire.
Specifically, the following traffic detours are in effect:
– Peristerion Avenue from the intersection with Aesopou Street in the Kolones area, in the lane heading toward Peristeria
– Peristerion Avenue from the intersection with Pyleos Street in the Peristeria area, in the lane heading toward Kolones
– On Agia Zoni Street, from the intersection with Souliou Street in the Kaki Vigla area, in the lane heading toward Selinia.
READ ALSO: Salamina Ablaze: Two Dead in the Flames, Homes Reduced to Ashes, Mass Evacuations by Sea (VIDEO) | AlphaNews
Source: APE-MPE/PROTO THEMA
