Massive Wildfires in Greece: Two Firefighting Helicopters Collide During Operations

Two firefighting helicopters collided in mid-air during a forest fire response in Attica, Greece, while Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned of extreme weather conditions and hurricane-force winds.

Helicopter Collision During Firefighting

“Two helicopters collided in the air during an operation to extinguish a forest fire in the Psatha area of Attica,” the fire department reported, as cited by the Greek news agency AMNA. Both leased machines had taken off from the Elefsina air base.

According to AMNA, one of the two-person helicopter crews was located, with eKathimerini reporting unofficially that they made contact immediately after the accident and sustained only minor injuries.

Greek media reported that the remaining two crew members from the second helicopter were also found unconscious and were transported by ambulances to the Air Force Hospital in Athens.

Extreme Weather and Government Response

Dangerous wildfires have been reported in France, Spain, Portugal, and Greece, with firefighters battling the elements while politicians assure the public they are managing the situation, writes Iwona Görke for Wyborcza.pl.

Due to extreme weather conditions and winds carrying fire, the weather situation in Greece is “extremely difficult,” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis admitted on Sunday, announcing aid for those affected by the fires.

Writing on social media platforms, Mitsotakis warned that Greece is facing “exceptionally difficult days with extreme weather conditions” and hurricane-force winds.

“In recent years, we have invested more than ever before in strengthening civil protection… However, there are times when nature and the force of weather conditions exceed all human plans and operational capabilities,” the Prime Minister wrote.

He explained that in recent days, the national fleet of firefighting aircraft was often unable to reach fire hotspots due to strong winds, or even descend over rough seas to scoop water to drop on the flames.

Mitsotakis promised that authorities will intensify efforts to assess material damage and provide support to those affected by the fires, assuring that the absolute priority remains human life, followed by property and valuable forest ecosystems.

Widespread Fires Across Greece

According to AFP, Greece—which faces fires every summer caused by heatwaves and drought—recently had a significantly better wildfire situation than France and Spain, but numerous fires have broken out in the country in recent days.

Over the course of a week, flames have consumed more than 12,000 hectares of forests and agricultural land, with the most difficult situation prevailing in the Attica region—including Athens—alongside neighboring Boeotia and the nearby island of Evia.

It is no longer a joke, as the Mediterranean Sea has become a second home for unwanted and increasingly burdensome animal and fish species over the past few years, writes Bartosz Hlebowicz on Wyborcza.pl in the article “Pink Jellyfish and Rabbitfish on the Attack: Greece Sets Up Barriers to Protect Beachgoers.”