Helicopters fighting Greece wildfires collide in mid-air
Video of the incident shows one of the helicopters hitting the propellers of the other, which bursts into flames.
Two helicopters engaged in the battle against wildfires collided in mid-air off the coast of Greece. The incident, captured on video from a distance of 65 km west of Athens, showed one helicopter striking the propellers of the other, causing both aircraft to plummet into a ravine. Two out of the four crew members were found unconscious upon arrival, while the remaining two sustained minor injuries.
Greece has experienced several wildfires this week, prompting mass evacuations. High winds have impeded control efforts over the blazes. Similar wildfires have plagued other European countries, including France and Spain, where large fires near Madrid and Bordeaux have since been contained. Over 300,000 individuals who were evacuated are now returning to their homes.
The firefighting operation in the Psatha area, where the collision occurred, involved over 500 firefighters battling the inferno for the past three days. The Fire Department reported that the incident transpired during a forest firefighting operation in the Psatha region. The crew, comprising two Greeks and two Romanians, has been transported to the 251st Air Force General Hospital.
While most wildfires originate from human activity, climate change has exacerbated their prevalence by creating favorable conditions for fire ignition and spread. The previous winter was unusually mild and wet, promoting vegetation growth that later dried out during subsequent heatwaves, providing ample fuel for wildfires.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
