Greek Wildfire Results in Plane Crash During Firefighting Operation

A tragic incident occurred in southern Greece on Tuesday when a Greek air force water-dropping plane crashed while diving into a wildfire, resulting in the death of both pilots. The crash took place amidst the ongoing battle against wildfires that have been devastating the country for days, fueled by a resurgence of heat wave temperatures. Similar wildfires, attributed to climate change, have also affected other Mediterranean countries, claiming the lives of at least 34 people in Algeria and two people in southern Italy.

The Greek air force confirmed the demise of the 34-year-old and 27-year-old pilots in the tragic accident. The plane they were flying did not have an ejection system. As a mark of respect, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis canceled his scheduled visit to Cyprus for Wednesday, while Greece’s armed forces declared three days of mourning. Mitsotakis expressed his admiration for the pilots, stating that they sacrificed their lives to save others and highlighting the dangers they face daily in their firefighting missions. He also vowed to continue the fight against the destructive forces of nature in their memory. The scorching heat, accompanied by strong winds, worsened the situation, with Greece experiencing its third successive heat wave, pushing temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in some areas.

Among the areas most severely affected by the wildfires on Tuesday were the popular tourist destinations of the southeastern island of Rhodes and the northwestern island of Corfu. The situation was particularly critical on Rhodes, where a fire has been burning for eight days and has now started moving inland, engulfing mountainous forest areas, including a portion of a nature reserve. Evacuation orders were issued for four villages on the island, with over 20,000 people, mostly tourists, having been evacuated over the weekend when fires swept through two coastal areas in the southeast of Rhodes.

Italy, while dealing with its own fires and extreme weather, extended a helping hand to Greece. On the island of Sicily, two elderly individuals lost their lives as a result of a wildfire that also led to the temporary closure of Palermo’s international airport. However, their identities have not yet been released. Sicily is currently witnessing 55 active fires, while in Puglia, to the north, around 2,000 tourists were safely evacuated from three hotels in Vieste due to the approaching flames, driven by strong winds.