Authorities are investigating the causes of the major fire that broke out on Salamina, which left two people dead, several injured, burned-down homes, and areas of forest land.
The investigation by the Arson Crimes Division is examining all the evidence, as there are reports that the fire may have started on a lot containing trash, while particular emphasis is also being placed on the sequence of events, as a second fire was reported just a few minutes later in a different area of the island.
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The two fires, just minutes apart
The first fire broke out in the Peristeria area of Salamina. According to a report from a resident, the fire is believed to have started on an adjacent lot on Andromachi Street, which, according to the report, was full of trash.
It was the resident who alerted the Fire Department, and the first responders rushed to the scene to tackle the fire, which spread rapidly due to the conditions.
At 3:03 p.m., according to information being reviewed by the authorities, a second fire broke out in the Kaki Vigla area of Selinion, an event that has become the focus of the investigation, as it occurred shortly after the first fire.
Elderly Couple Found Dead on Andromachis Street
During the firefighting operation, firefighters discovered two people dead on Andromachi Street. According to the Fire Department’s Director of Strategic Planning and Communications, Chief Fire Officer Vasilis Vathrakogiannis, the two people were found unconscious by firefighters responding to the scene.
According to reports, they were an elderly couple living in a home near the spot where the fire is believed to have started.
Meanwhile, ten people were injured in the fire, with eight suffering burns and two experiencing breathing difficulties due to smoke inhalation.
The Arson Crimes Division is investigating whether the fire was caused by negligence or another cause, while gathering witness statements and evidence from the points of origin.
Unmaintained Lots
Salamina Mayor George Panagopoulos addressed the long-standing problem of uncultivated plots on the island, noting that there are more than 10,000 undeveloped plots, not counting residences with large open spaces.
As he noted to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA-MPA), not all areas have been cleared as required, a fact that could contribute to the spread of a fire.
On-site inspections are
beginning
Meanwhile, today, Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Kostas Katsafados is traveling to Salamina, where at 12:00 p.m. at Salamina City Hall he will hold a meeting with municipal officials and all relevant agencies.
The meeting will focus on assessing the damage, providing relief to those affected, compensation procedures, and coordinating next steps following the devastating fire.
At the same time, on-site inspections will begin immediately by teams from the General Directorate for the Mitigation of Natural Disasters (GDRPC), in cooperation with the Municipality of Salamina, in order to document the damage to the homes and property of those affected.
Source: Proto Thema
