Crews in Greece have been battling a major wildfire near Athens for a fourth consecutive day, amid a tragic mid-air collision that claimed the lives of two pilots. The incident occurred as firefighters and aerial units worked to contain the blaze, which has already destroyed over 100 homes in the region (illawarramercury.com.au).
The collision between two firefighting helicopters took place on Sunday while they were attempting to suppress the fire northwest of Athens, according to reports from local authorities. This tragic event has intensified the emergency response, with additional aircraft and personnel deployed to the area (sundayworld.co.za).
Firefighters have been supported by water-dropping planes and helicopters, which took to the skies at first light to assist in extinguishing the flames. The operation has been complicated by strong winds, which have fueled the spread of the fire and forced evacuations in nearby areas (ca.news.yahoo.com).
Authorities have confirmed that the crash has added to the growing toll of the wildfires, which have already claimed five lives. The fire department has identified three key fronts—Psatha, Kryo Pigadi, and Kandyli—as the most challenging areas to manage (arabnews.pk).
