A terrible accident occurred in the skies over Greece, becoming a tragic episode in the fight against massive wildfires. Two fire-fighting helicopters collided in mid-air while carrying out a mission to extinguish a fire west of the country's capital. As a result of the disaster, one of the aircraft crashed, killing two crew members.
Details of the tragic incident
The collision occurred on Sunday over the Psafa area. According to the Associated Press, two Bell model helicopters were involved in the accident. There were four people on board. Two of them died at the scene: a Greek coordinator and a Danish pilot. Two other crew members — a Greek and a Briton — were rescued and survived.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis officially confirmed the incident, expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy. In his statement, he noted that the loss of the Greek coordinator and the Danish pilot while fighting the fire in the Porto Germeno area fills everyone with sadness. The head of government also conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased firefighters.
Scale of the fire and evacuation of the population
The accident occurred against the backdrop of a critical situation with wildfires raging in the region. Strong gusts of wind are driving the fire deeper towards Athens, forcing authorities to take emergency measures. Orders were given to evacuate the villages of Kandili, Agia Skepi, and Tutuli as thick smoke rose over the mountain ridges.
Particular concern is caused by the situation in the coastal village of Porto Germeno on the Gulf of Corinth. The fire, which started on Friday near Agios Vasileios, quickly spread to Porto Germeno and the wooded mountains. Because the fire and smoke blocked the few roads, rescuers had to evacuate people by sea. On Friday, 254 people were rescued, and another 12 on Saturday.
Difficulties in extinguishing and the European context
The extinguishing operation is complicated by weather conditions. Gusts of wind prevent some aircraft from taking on water from the sea, paralyzing part of the work. About 500 firefighters and 23 aircraft are involved in eliminating the consequences. According to meteorologist Theodoros Yannaros, the fire has covered an area of 40 to 50 square kilometers, although official figures have not yet been released by the authorities.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of a general wave of heat and fires sweeping across Europe. Mass fires have already been recorded in France and Spain, where uncontrolled fire has forced more than 250,000 people to flee. The heat, which has caused the deaths of thousands of people on the continent, has also led scientists to warn that 2026 could become one of the warmest years in the history of observations due to the intensification of global warming.
