Two die as firefighting helicopters collide in Greece; French blaze changes course

On Sunday, two firefighters lost their lives when their firefighting helicopters collided while battling a massive wildfire in Greece, northwest of Athens. The incident occurred in the Attica region, specifically near Psatha, as both helicopters descended to cross paths at low altitude. The Greek and Danish nationals aboard one of the helicopters perished, while the other crew members, comprising a Greek and a British national, survived.

Investigations into the collision have begun. Europe has witnessed a surge in wildfires this summer, triggered by prolonged heatwaves and scant rainfall, both of which scientists attribute to climate change. France and Spain have experienced some respite from destructive fires over the weekend, but new wildfires have emerged in Greece after a period of relative calm.

Meanwhile, a fire in southern Greece prompted the evacuation of several settlements on the Ionian island of Kefalonia. In France, a wildfire that initially shifted course after a change in wind direction engulfed a previously inaccessible forested area. Authorities closed a nearby highway and evacuated an animal park due to the escalating blaze.

In Spain, numerous wildfires that ravaged extensive areas over the past week have largely been contained; however, reignitions in certain regions persist. In Caceres, a forest fire forced the evacuation of approximately 800 residents, who were later permitted to return to their homes. European countries grappling with drought and falling water levels in major rivers, such as the Rhine and Danube, which hit an unprecedented low in Hungary, Serbia, and Romania, are also under siege.

Hungary faces a critical five-day period as its sole nuclear power plant shuts down for the first time in over four decades, coinciding with a looming heatwave. Drought conditions have disrupted shipping, tourism, and water usage in Hungary, prompting restrictions in over 100 cities and villages. The Danube's water level in Serbia plummeted to the lowest since 1985, diminishing the daily output of the nation's largest hydropower plant to merely 20%.