The on-site inspection continues at “ground zero” on Andromachis Street, in the ravine just a stone’s throw from where two elderly residents were found charred, having lost their lives in the devastating fire that broke out on the island of Salamina. The Fire Service investigation is in full swing, with all evidence pointing to negligence behind the Peristeria fire, while authorities are investigating arson as the likely cause of a second blaze that erupted minutes later in Selinia.
Salamina: Negligence the most likely scenario for the Peristeria fire
Specifically, investigations by the Arson Crimes Directorate point to negligence as the most probable scenario for the Peristeria fire front. According to current assessments, the fire is believed to have started when an elderly local resident used an open flame. The situation reportedly spiraled out of control due to the strong winds prevailing at the time, which contributed to the fire’s rapid spread into the forested area.
As part of the investigation, authorities searched a home in the area located close to where the fire originated — the residence of the elderly woman, who has health issues and had given conflicting accounts of how the fire started. Lighters and charcoal were seized from the property for examination, along with sections of electrical cables that may provide investigators with additional evidence. The findings have been transferred to Chalandri, where they will be examined by a forensic expert.
Arson being investigated in the Selinia fire front
The investigation into the Selinia blaze appears to be heading in a very different direction, with authorities actively pursuing the possibility of arson. Fire Service officers have in their possession a witness testimony from a local resident who saw a dark-colored vehicle pull over to the side of the road, after which the driver or passenger threw a white object — moments later, the fire broke out. Investigators are continuing their work to determine whether this eyewitness account is corroborated by the remaining physical evidence.
Salamina: Inspections underway — damage reported to 15 homes and businesses
In the meantime, residents in Peristeria are beginning to assess the full extent of the damage. Since the morning of Tuesday, August 18th, inspection teams from the General Secretariat for Natural Disaster Recovery have been conducting assessments of the burned homes and businesses on the island. According to the initial overview provided by the local municipal authority, approximately 15 properties have sustained damage, though a definitive assessment will only be possible once all inspections are complete.
Several buildings have already been deemed uninhabitable by engineers conducting door-to-door inspections of homes and businesses, carrying out a preliminary visual assessment that includes photography and damage recording. Once the inspection of each property is completed, the team marks the entrance door with a color-coded symbol indicating its safety status: red means the property is deemed unsafe for use, yellow indicates it requires repairs, and green means it remains habitable.
Once the engineering teams complete their inspections, the necessary certificates will be issued, enabling affected residents to submit applications for the first wave of financial assistance.
Livanos: “Restoring normality is the priority — flood prevention works must follow”
MP for Piraeus B’ of New Democracy, Michail Livanos, spoke about the pace of recovery efforts and the next steps, noting that “this morning, teams from the General Secretariat for Natural Disaster Recovery and Relief arrived and began assessing the damage to businesses and homes that suffered serious harm or total destruction. It is significant that infrastructure restoration has already begun in terms of water supply and electricity. It is very important that all procedures are completed as quickly as possible to restore a sense of normality — to whatever extent that is possible — in people’s lives, in the midst of grief and the loss of two of our fellow human beings who were taken so unexpectedly and so unjustly.”
Livanos also extended his thanks to the leadership of the Ministry of Civil Protection, the Fire Service, the National Emergency Medical Service (EKAV), volunteers, and local authorities, emphasizing that “through their coordinated efforts, they prevented a far greater catastrophe in a challenging residential landscape, where forest and housing are intertwined. Going forward, it is critically important that we address the threat posed by the first autumn rains and ensure that the ravines are managed properly to prevent flooding. We will be monitoring all of this on a daily basis so that we can tackle each issue as it arises.”
“The loss of two lives weighs heavily on all of us”
For his part, the Deputy Mayor for Civil Protection of the Municipality of Salamina, Sotiris Nannos, stated that the number of properties sustaining damage is preliminarily estimated at around fifteen. “The competent officials from the General Secretariat will give us the exact number once they complete the inspections. The process is moving very quickly. The Minister visited the island yesterday, and this morning the teams are already here, beginning the assessment. The process is so streamlined that even we didn’t expect it to move this fast. We are confident that once the Joint Ministerial Decision — due to be issued within the next twenty days — is published, things will become even simpler.”
Reflecting on the mood prevailing in the area, Nannos described the mixed emotions felt by local residents: “This is a wonderful area here in Peristeria, where people had come for their summer holidays and suddenly found themselves facing a natural disaster. On one hand, we want to feel a sense of relief that the Civil Protection plan worked effectively, but on the other hand, we cannot, because we suffered the tragic loss of two of our fellow human beings. Unfortunately, that is the event that has deeply saddened us all.”
