Two firefighting helicopters collide near Athens as Greece confronts multiple blazes

Firefighters in Greece faced a deadly challenge on Sunday as two aerial firefighting helicopters collided during efforts to contain multiple wildfires sweeping through the region. The incident occurred in the Psatha area west of Athens, where intense heat and fierce winds created hazardous conditions for emergency responders. One crew member was confirmed safe, while search teams continued efforts to locate the second. Video footage captured the moment one helicopter exploded into flames following a suspected rotor collision, highlighting the extreme risks faced by crews battling the blazes. The wildfires have already claimed two lives, with officials describing the situation as “extremely difficult.” Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned that high-speed winds, reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour, have severely limited the effectiveness of aerial operations. Despite deploying dozens of aircraft, the dangerous weather has made flying nearly impossible. Firefighters working near the coastal village of Porto Germeno struggled to prevent the fire from reaching the western suburbs of Athens, as flames climbed steep slopes overnight. Over 500 personnel were deployed to combat the blaze, which has forced the evacuation of several villages and caused widespread damage. In addition to the Porto Germeno fire, separate blazes have engulfed parts of the Peloponnese and the Ionian Sea island of Cephalonia. On Cephalonia, a 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of intentionally setting fire to a property. The National Observatory’s climate tracker estimated that over 6,500 hectares of land were consumed in the Gulf of Corinth region, including areas near Porto Germeno. Meteorological reports noted that strong northerly winds, though slightly reduced from earlier days, continue to pose a threat. Researchers suggest that approximately 16,000 hectares of land have been destroyed nationwide, underscoring the scale of the disaster. Local residents described the speed at which the fire spread, with some noting that the village of Porto Germeno had previously suffered a smaller blaze three years ago. This time, however, the flames returned with greater intensity, destroying numerous homes. Minas Tsotdanis, a farmer whose house was lost, expressed devastation, stating that even if his home had survived, the surrounding landscape would remain scorched. Police footage showed officers rushing through streets, knocking on doors and calling out, “Is anyone there?” as they evacuated residents from nearby Agios Nektarios. Meanwhile, researchers at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki emphasized the alarming rate of destruction. Nikos Georgopoulos, a forest management expert, remarked that the fire had spread so quickly that it was hard to believe. The situation has prompted concerns about the classification of the Porto Germeno blaze as a “megafire,” with Theodore Giannaros, a wildfire meteorologist, estimating that the affected area could exceed 10,000 hectares. Such a designation would mark one of the largest wildfires in recent history, reflecting both the severity of the current crisis and the growing frequency of extreme weather events.