Two crew members killed as helicopters collide while fighting fires near Athens

A tragic collision occurred on Sunday between two helicopters engaged in firefighting operations near Athens, Greece, resulting in the deaths of both crew members from one aircraft. The incident took place in the Psatha area, west of the capital, during an effort to combat wildfires. The Hellenic Fire Service reported that one crew member from the downed helicopter sustained minor injuries, while the other two were found unconscious and transported to a hospital.

Footage captured the moment the lower helicopter crashed into the ground, engulfed in flames, after its main rotor struck the base of the higher aircraft. Greece has faced a series of devastating wildfires this summer, fueled by scorching temperatures and minimal rainfall, conditions exacerbated by climate change. Although blazes in France and Spain have shown signs of abating, Greece has experienced renewed outbreaks following a period of relative calm.

The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, acknowledged the overwhelming power of nature and weather conditions during his weekly address. Evacuation alerts were issued for several areas in western Attica, including an industrial zone near Megara. Local residents, like 61-year-old Tasos Tzempelikos, bravely fought the flames alongside firefighters.

Authorities are actively working to prevent the Veniza fire from spreading to the coastal town of Megara, with reports suggesting over 10,000 hectares of land have been scorched. Fires also broke out in villages on Kefalonia, an Ionian island. In France, wildfires are showing signs of subsiding, with only minor flare-ups in specific regions.

Meanwhile, Spain has managed to contain most of its wildfires, though reignitions pose challenges. In Hungary, water levels in major rivers like the Danube have plummeted to record lows, straining hydropower plants and prompting water-use restrictions in numerous cities and villages.