An elderly couple who died in the devastating wildfire on the Greek island of Salamina reportedly tried to escape through a ravine as the flames moved rapidly down a hillside, according to their neighbors.
The couple lived on Andromachis Street, directly across from a road leading toward the sea. As the fire descended from the hill, they are believed to have attempted to flee through a ravine that ultimately became the place where they died.
“The man always believed that the best way to escape was through the stream,” a neighbor told tanea.gr.
Two-Front Wildfire in the Kaki Vigla and Peristeria Areas of Salamina
‘Every second was precious’
Residents were trying to return to their daily routines just hours after the destructive fire swept through the area. Fearing renewed flare-ups, some were using garden hoses to wet down their yards.
Yet many said they were still struggling to comprehend how their neighborhood had been transformed into a scene of devastation.
Two-Front Wildfire in the Kaki Vigla and Peristeria Areas of Salamina
Neighbors of the elderly couple said every second was crucial as the fire advanced rapidly and thick smoke covered the area.
“The people had been vacationers here for years. They stayed at that particular house, which was barely damaged. They probably saw the fire and went down the stairs toward the ravine. The elderly man always believed it was the best way to escape. But that was a mistake, because the wind was pushing the fire this way,” one neighbor said.
As the fire descended from the hill, residents heard people shouting as panic spread through the area.
Two-Front Wildfire in the Kaki Vigla and Peristeria Areas of Salamina
“Everything happened so quickly. Everything was burning, and we were saved by a miracle,” a neighbor said.
The Peristeria area now resembles a landscape devastated by war after the fire swept through it. Everything surrounding the home of the elderly couple who lost their lives has been reduced to ash.
Two-Front Wildfire in the Kaki Vigla and Peristeria Areas of Salamina
