A fast-moving wildfire on an island just off the coast near Athens has left two people dead and forced hundreds to flee their homes as flames tore through forests and villages.
The blaze broke out amid hot, dry and windy conditions that made it extremely difficult for firefighters to contain. Within hours it had spread across large parts of the island, cutting off roads and threatening residential areas. Emergency services ordered mass evacuations, with residents and tourists loaded onto ferries and buses and moved to safety on the mainland and in nearby towns.
Despite the scale of the response, two people were confirmed to have died in the fire. Authorities have not yet released details about the victims, but they say investigations are underway to determine the circumstances. Several others were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries, while homes, businesses and swathes of woodland were destroyed.
Hundreds of firefighters, supported by water-dropping aircraft, worked through the night to stop the fire from reaching more populated areas. The government has declared a state of emergency on the island and deployed additional crews from across Greece.
Greece faces wildfires every summer, but this latest outbreak near Athens has renewed concerns about the impact of heatwaves and drought. For now, the focus remains on containing the remaining hotspots, helping those who have been displaced, and supporting the families of the two people who lost their lives.
