Greece crash latest: Two helicopters collide while fighting wildfires as search and rescue underway

independent.co.uk
Aerial footage shows scale of Suffolk wildfire

Two firefighting helicopters collided while fighting wildfires west of Athens on Sunday, Greece’s fire department said.

A search and rescue operation for the crews is under way in the Psatha area, it added.

Greek firefighters have been battling to control a huge wildfire that has destroyed over 100 homes northwest of Athens, while a fresh blaze forced evacuations on the popular tourist island of Kefalonia.

“During the aerial firefighting operation, two BELL helicopters, leased by the fire department, with a crew of two people each, crashed in the wider area of ​​Psatha, Attica,” the Greek fire service said in a statement.

“The helicopters had taken off from the Elefsina military airport.”

Europe has been ravaged by wildfires this summer after a period of record-breaking heatwaves and little rain – conditions that scientists say have been exacerbated by climate change.