Greece Faces Massive Wildfires, Two Die After Helicopter Collision

Overview

• Fires that began earlier this week have entered a fifth day with estimates of 10,000 to more than 16,000 hectares burned across multiple regions including Attica, Beotia and the Gulf of Corinth.
• Two contracted Bell firefighting helicopters collided during aerial operations on Sunday, killing two crew members from one aircraft and leaving two others rescued alive while authorities opened an investigation.
• Violent gusts reaching about 100 km/h repeatedly grounded planes and helicopters, but a drop in wind allowed tanker planes and choppers to resume water drops and steady containment efforts on Tuesday.
• More than 500 firefighters and roughly 30 aircraft, backed by reinforcements from France and Romania, are fighting the blazes while local evacuations, destroyed homes and burned olive groves strain communities and the regional economy.
• A preliminary fire service probe points to sparks from vibration on a private power line carrying wind-farm electricity as a likely ignition source, two people have been arrested, and officials warn that heat, drought and under-resourced crews increase the danger of new outbreaks.