Fires in Greece

Firefighting helicopters collide in midair

A firefighting helicopter in action in Porto Germeno, northwest of Athens(Bild: AP/Michael Varaklas)

Severe wildfires continue to rage in Greece. On Sunday, two firefighting helicopters collided while battling the blazes, as seen in a video.

Conditions on Sunday were considered extremely difficult, making the operation in the Psatha region west of Athens correspondingly risky: As the two helicopters hovered in the air, they kept getting closer and closer to each other. Eventually, one helicopter struck the rotor of the other. Shortly afterward, it burst into a fireball and crashed to the ground.

Fire department officials stated that they had “immediately mobilized rescue teams to locate and assist the crews.” 

Here is the video of the collision. Warning: the images are disturbing:

Second Crew Also Believed to Be Alive
The crew of one helicopter was rescued and brought to safety. They are currently on their way to the hospital, according to the Greek daily newspaper “Kathimerini.” The crew of the second helicopter is believed to have been discovered this evening. The fire department’s press spokesperson stated on TV around 5 p.m. that both occupants had been rescued unconscious and taken to hospitals. Earlier, media reports had indicated two fatalities.

Meanwhile, the flames from the massive fire about 50 kilometers west of Athens have spread to within a few kilometers of the city of Megara, which has a population of about 36,000. According to initial estimates, more than 10,000 hectares of forest, as well as homes, barns, and farmland, have been destroyed since Friday, reported the Greek broadcaster ERT.

For days, massive fires have kept the popular vacation destination on edge. According to authorities, the flames have destroyed more than 12,000 hectares of land so far. Hundreds of firefighters battled the blazes on various fronts over the weekend.