Key facts
- Two firefighters, one Greek and one Danish national, died in a midair helicopter collision.
- Another three Greek firefighters died last week in separate wildfire incidents.
- A wildfire near Porto Germeno destroyed approximately 200 houses.
- Over 2,500 people have been evacuated from western Attica.
- Fires are also active in the Peloponnese and on the island of Cephalonia.
Greece is grappling with multiple wildfires, exacerbated by strong winds and dry conditions, leading to tragic accidents and widespread destruction. On Sunday, two firefighters, a Greek and a Danish national, died when two helicopters battling a major blaze west of Athens collided midair. Television footage captured one helicopter exploding upon impact. This incident follows the deaths of three other Greek firefighters last week in separate wildfire incidents in Crete and the Peloponnese.
A fire that began Friday near Porto Germeno has spread, fanned by winds up to 130 kph, reaching the settlement of Veniza and destroying an estimated 200 houses. In western Attica, flames are threatening communities and an industrial district near Megara, prompting the evacuation of over 2,500 people. The scale of the fire front in this region has been described as a "huge front" covering approximately 25 acres.
Additional blazes are being fought in the Peloponnese and on the island of Cephalonia, with over 500 firefighters deployed nationwide. Authorities are focusing efforts on preventing the fire from advancing towards Megara, a town of 30,000.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed deep sorrow for the helicopter crash and pledged support for those who lost their homes, acknowledging the extreme difficulty of the situation. He noted that the intensity of nature and weather conditions are currently exceeding human planning and operational capabilities.
Europe has experienced a severe wildfire season this summer, attributed by scientists to climate change, which has increased the likelihood of heatwaves and droughts, making land more susceptible to fires. France and Spain recently evacuated over 300,000 people due to wildfires. Favorable wind conditions are anticipated for Monday, which is expected to aid firefighting efforts.