- Two firefighting helicopters collided in Greece, resulting in two fatalities.
- Hundreds of Greek firefighters have been battling a wildfire northwest of Athens for a fourth consecutive day, with strong winds complicating efforts.
- More than 400 firefighters and 21 aircraft were deployed near Kandili and Agia Skepi to combat the wildfire, as thick smoke and flames engulfed the area.
- Strong and erratic winds have hindered water bombers from drawing seawater, leaving ground forces to fight the blazes alone, according to Deputy Climate Crisis Minister Kostas Katsafados.
- Staffing issues in the fire service have been exacerbated by a hiring freeze during Greece's 2009-2018 debt crisis, according to Nikos Lavranos, head of the Federation of Unions of Fire Service Employees.
Two crew members died in a helicopter collision while battling a wildfire near Psatha, Greece, on Sunday. The incident occurred as hundreds of firefighters faced a challenging fourth day of firefighting amid strong winds that have devastated homes and farmland.
The crash involved two helicopters, with one crew surviving the mid-air collision. Authorities are investigating the cause, focusing on the inadequate formation of the helicopters during the operation. Faidon Karaiosifidis, an aviation accident investigator, noted, "The formation of the two helicopters was not appropriate. Their vertical and horizontal separation, as well as the descent rate, were inadequate."
Meanwhile, over 400 firefighters and 21 aircraft have been deployed to combat the wildfire, which has engulfed lush pine forests and forced evacuations. Deputy Climate Crisis Minister Kostas Katsafados stated that erratic winds have hindered water bombers from drawing seawater, leaving ground forces to manage the blazes alone.3
The wildfire, which has traveled 25 km (15 miles), is believed to have been sparked by vibrating conductors on a private power line. An electrical engineer and a contractor have been arrested and are under investigation for arson. The ongoing crisis has stretched Greece's firefighting resources, a situation exacerbated by a hiring freeze during the 2009-2018 debt crisis, according to Nikos Lavranos, head of the Federation of Unions of Fire Service Employees.
"A firefighter who is useful to fellow citizens and society is a rested firefighter, not an exhausted one," he emphasized.
“Accident investigator Faidon Karaiosifidis said the helicopters' formation was not appropriate, with inadequate vertical and horizontal separation and descent rate. More than 400 firefighters and 21 aircraft were deployed near Kandili and Agia Skepi, where strong winds prevented water bombers from drawing seawater.”
