Forest fires in Greece and Spain kill three people
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Forest fires in Greece and Spain have killed three people over the weekend of August 15–16. More than 570 people were evacuated from the Greek island of Salamis, where two fires burned near crowded beaches, and a soldier died fighting a blaze in Spain's Aragon region. Firefighters across Greece recorded 34 fires in 24 hours, while a fire in Belgium's High Fens nature reserve continued.
Key Facts
- Two fires on Salamis broke out almost simultaneously near the island's south and east beaches.
- Around 200 firefighters, six aircraft and seven helicopters were deployed to the Salamis fires.
- Nine people required medical treatment for burns, according to Greek agency ANA.
- Fires in Spain's Andalusia region destroyed 25,000 hectares of vegetation in the 10 days to August 16, before being brought under control.
- A fire south of Bordeaux, France, burned 1,700 hectares of vegetation from August 13, while an end-July fire near Bordeaux destroyed 40,000 hectares.
Salamis Island Fires
The Greek coast guard said two forest fires broke out almost simultaneously on Salamis island, near crowded beaches in the south and east. The fire service said an elderly couple died after help arrived too late, and nine people needed medical treatment for burns, according to Greek agency ANA. Strong winds spread the flames quickly, and Greek television broadcast images of homes burned to the ground. By publication, the fire near Selinia beach on the east was under control, while scattered hotspots remained near Peristeria beach in the south. About 200 firefighters, six aircraft and seven helicopters were deployed on the island of about 37,000 people, many of them elderly.
Spain, France and Belgium
In Spain's Aragon region, regional president Jorge Azcón said on X on Aug 16 that a soldier died while fighting a fire, local media reporting his vehicle overturned. In Andalusia, hundreds of evacuated residents were able to return home after fires destroyed 25,000 hectares of vegetation over 10 days and were brought under control by Aug 16. In France, the situation had stabilized by Aug 16 in the Ardennes department near the Belgian border and in the southwest. A fire south of Bordeaux burned 1,700 hectares of vegetation from Aug 13, while a larger fire near Bordeaux at the end of July destroyed 40,000 hectares. Firefighters were still battling a fire in Belgium's High Fens nature reserve on the border with Germany at the time of publication.
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Forest fires in Greece and Spain kill three people
