Salamina fires - live: Greek island filled with Brits in flames as evacuations ordered

Homes have burnt down and evacuation orders have been issued on the Greek island of Salamina after two massive wildfires erupted at the same time.

The separate blazes broke out in the Peristeria area, and Selinia areas, with the latter heading toward the popular tourist village of Kaki Vigla.

The mayor of Salamina, Giorgos Panagopoulos, told Greek news outlet ERT that "houses have burned down" in the Peristeria area. The mayor added: "The situation is difficult. There are two major fires, homes are under threat, and we have asked the police to bring us two ferry boats to Saterli Beach so that we can use them for people if we see that the situation becomes much more difficult."

Very strong winds blowing across Salamina are increasing the risk of the fire fronts spreading rapidly.

Shocking images from Salamina show the extent of the devastation caused by two separate wildfires raging in the Attica region today.

Homes and cars have been left completely gutted by the blaze, which has so far killed two people and seen multiple others rushed to hospital.

Ten people, aged between 15 and 89, have suffered burns and symptoms of smoke inhalation during the wildfires in Salamina.

Five patients have been taken to hospital, including one burn victim with second-degree burns on 25% of her body surface, and another patient who is being transported to Thriasio.

The fire in Peristeria is believed to have started in a garbage dump, according to local reports.

A resident on Andromachis Street who reported the blaze at 14:43 local time told the emergency crews that fire began in an adjacent plot of land which was full of garbage.

The cause of the blaze, along with a second which broke out a few minutes later, at 15:03 in Kaki Vigla, Selinia, are now being investigated by the Arson Crimes Division.

A total of 260 firefighters and ten aircraft are now tackling both blazes - one in Peristeria and the other in Selinia - in Salamina this evening.

A major evacuation operation is underway as fires continue to burn across Salamina, with 502 people rescued from maritime areas in Saterli and Kolones, on the island's southern coast.

The Coast Guard said the rescued people have been transferred to three passenger-cargo ships, which remain in the area to assist in the operation.