Two helicopters involved in firefighting operations collided mid-air while combatting wildfires in the vicinity of Athens, Greece. The incident occurred in the Porto Germeno area, prompting a search and rescue mission to locate the crews of both helicopters, each of which had two individuals on board.
The recent weeks have witnessed devastating wildfires in various parts of Greece, with a fresh blaze erupting northwest of Athens on Friday. Approximately 500 firefighters, supported by 23 aircraft, are currently battling the flames.
The fire department confirmed that two BELL helicopters, operated by the department with two crew members each, crashed near Psatha, Attica. The search and rescue efforts are underway to locate the missing occupants, with one helicopter’s crew already found safe.
Photographs circulating in Greek media depict a severely damaged helicopter wreckage near the incident site. Over 100 homes have been destroyed, necessitating evacuations near the Greek capital, aggravated by strong winds hindering aerial firefighting efforts.
Evacuations were ordered in areas like Kandili, Agia Skepi, and Toutouli due to rising smoke levels. Porto Germeno, a coastal community on the Gulf of Corinth, remains a significant concern for firefighting crews. Additionally, a military firing range was impacted by the fire, potentially activating unexploded ordnance.
The fire originated near Agios Vasileios before spreading towards Porto Germeno and the forested mountains west of Athens. Evacuations via sea transport were conducted to rescue residents as the fire encroached on coastal regions, with a total of 254 people evacuated on Friday and an additional 12 on Saturday.
Wildfire expert Theodore Giannaros estimated the affected area to be between 15 to 19 square miles, though official figures are pending. The blaze has now reached western Attica, posing threats to communities and industrial zones outside Megara. Adverse weather conditions are impeding firefighting aircraft from accessing water sources.
In a separate incident, fires on Kefalonia prompted evacuations from inland settlements as air support engaged in water-dropping operations. Firefighters are also combating a blaze near Nea Tenedos in Halkidiki.
Tragically, recent wildfires in Greece have claimed the lives of two firefighters in Crete and one in the Peloponnese. The devastation caused by the fires has left local residents in disbelief, with one farmer describing the loss of a once pristine forest as “total destruction.”