Two people have died in wildfires on the Greek island of Salamina, west of Athens, as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office warnings remain in force for UK travellers. Greek firefighters recovered the bodies in the village of Peristeria, where strong winds fuelled the rapidly spreading blaze.
Evacuations and emergency response
A second blaze was reported in the Selini area, where firefighting and coast guard vessels evacuated some 500 beachgoers. The island had been placed at high wildfire risk on Sunday, with near gale-force winds.
Fire brigadier general Vasileios Vathrakogiannis said: "These conditions enabled the fire to quickly reach dangerous proportions and spread rapidly within seven minutes toward nearby residential areas."
Foreign Office advice for UK holidaymakers
The Foreign Office's website contains advice for UK holidaymakers, warning: "There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location."
It adds: "Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The situation can change quickly." Advice includes: "Leave no litter, especially not glass which is known to start fires. Make sure cigarettes are properly extinguished. Do not light barbecues."
The advice continues: "Causing a wildfire or a forest fire is a criminal offence in Greece – even if unintentional. If you see a fire, call the emergency services on 112."
Similar blazes in Belgium
Similar blazes have been seen in Belgium, where a fire in the High Fens nature reserve burned about 30 square kilometres (12 square miles) in one of the country's worst wildfires in recent history. About 600 residents in the municipalities of Waimes and Butgenbach, in Liege province near the German border, were told to evacuate on Saturday as winds shifted and smoke spread.
Authorities advised tourists to leave, and a nearby gymnasium was opened to receive evacuees. Liege provincial governor Herve Jamar said in a statement on Sunday that more than 250 emergency personnel have been deployed, including more than 100 Belgian and German firefighters, as well as police, military officers, and civil protection staff. Firefighting helicopters operated by Belgium's federal police and the Netherlands also helped.
For people near affected areas, the Foreign Office advises following @112Greece for official updates, following the guidance of the emergency service, calling Greek emergency services on 112 if in immediate danger, and contacting their airline or travel operator for return travel to the UK.
