Firefighters continued battling a major wildfire in West Attica on Monday, as operations were overshadowed by the deaths of two pilots in a helicopter collision during firefighting efforts a day earlier.
The accident occurred on Sunday, 2 August, when two leased Bell helicopters collided while taking part in forest firefighting operations in the Psatha area of Attica.
The two crew members aboard one helicopter, a Danish and a Greek pilot, were killed. The two occupants of the second aircraft, a British and a Greek pilot, survived with minor injuries.
Massive firefighting operation
Ground crews remained on alert throughout the night, creating firebreaks with heavy machinery and working to halt the fire's advance and limit its spread.
According to the Greek Fire Service, efforts are focused on two main fronts, at Agios Nektarios and Kandili near Megara.
An emergency 112 alert was issued at 3:24am, calling for the evacuation of people in the areas of Skepi, Kandili and Botsika towards Nea Peramos.
A total of 450 firefighters, supported by 126 vehicles and 22 specialist forest firefighting teams, remain engaged in the operation, alongside volunteers and numerous water tankers.
With first light, aerial firefighting assets resumed operations, carrying out water drops on the affected areas.
So far, five aircraft and five helicopters have been deployed for aerial firefighting, with additional reinforcements expected.
Broad support deployed
The Deucalion response team is also assisting firefighting efforts.
Water tankers and heavy machinery have been provided by the regions of Attica and Central Greece, while engineering equipment supplied by the Directorate of Construction and Natural Disaster Response continues to open firebreaks in coordination with forestry services.
Police and ambulance services remain deployed across the wider fire zone.
Additional buses from both the Fire Service and the Armed Forces have been stationed in the area to assist with civilian evacuations if required.
Coordination of all responding forces is being carried out through the mobile operational command centre OLYMPOS.
More than 111,000 stremmas affected
The wildfire, which began in Boeotia on 31 July before spreading into West Attica, has burned extensive forest areas and caused damage to homes and properties.
According to analysis of Copernicus EMS satellite data by the National Observatory of Athens, more than 111,000 stremmas had been affected by noon on Sunday.
The total includes approximately:
- 30,900 stremmas in Boeotia
- 80,800 stremmas in the Porto Germeno area of Attica
Very high fire risk
A very high wildfire risk (Category 4) remains in place on Monday for Attica, Boeotia and Euboea, according to Greece's Civil Protection Service.
Fire service personnel across the country remain on heightened alert due to multiple ongoing incidents and prevailing weather conditions.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Costas Katsafados is launching a series of meetings and coordination efforts in fire-affected areas aimed at assessing damage and accelerating state assistance measures for affected residents and businesses.
Inspection teams will also be deployed to conduct on-site assessments.
Mr Katsafados is scheduled to hold a coordination meeting at 11am at the Evpalio municipal office in Phocis, with the participation of regional authorities, state aid officials, local government representatives and other relevant agencies.
Source: CNA
