Greece wildfire crisis: Helicopter crash highlights dangers as fires rage across Europe

A collision involving firefighting helicopters in Attica has underscored the severe risks faced by aerial crews battling Europe's escalating wildfire crisis, a Bloomberg report highlighted. The incident occurred amid a large fire that spread across Attica and Boeotia, straining emergency resources.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis acknowledged the extreme difficulty of the situation, stating that "these days are exceptionally difficult for our country." He emphasized that harsh weather conditions and strong winds are testing the limits of the Fire Service, Civil Protection, local authorities, and citizens. Mitsotakis noted that the "burden of the fight" falls almost entirely on frontline responders.

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These days are exceptionally difficult for our country.

The fire, which began in Boeotia on Friday and spread to Attica over the weekend, involved approximately 500 firefighters, including international volunteers from France and Romania, supported by over 20 aircraft and helicopters. By Sunday, the blaze had extended significantly, approaching the popular coastal settlement of Porto Germeno. The fire has already consumed an estimated 100,000 acres, making it the largest in Greece this year, a country accustomed to severe summer fires. Tourists were evacuated from hotels on the island of Kefalonia due to another fire.

These fires are part of a challenging European fire season, which started earlier than usual and was worsened by multiple heatwaves and prolonged drought. France has seen over 300,000 people displaced by fires, with major blazes threatening areas like Bordeaux and Madrid. While the situation in France has seen some improvement, with most fires controlled, the large Gironde fire remained stable on Sunday. Authorities in the Var region of southern France also reported their fire was under control.

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the burden of the fight falls almost entirely on frontline responders