Two helicopters crashed into each other on Sunday while engaged in firefighting efforts in Greece's Psatha region, west of Athens. A search and rescue operation has been initiated.
The two BELL helicopters, each carrying two passengers, had departed from the Elefsina military airport. The collision occurred as hundreds of firefighters were working to contain wind-fueled fires near Porto Germeno on the Gulf of Corinth, northwest of the capital.
Authorities reported that strong winds exacerbated the fire's spread and made its trajectory unpredictable. "The situation is extremely hard, especially today. We have really strong winds, gusts exceeding 73 kph (45 mph). The direction of the fire can’t be determined easily," stated Giorgos Doulas, a doctor and firefighter.
According to Yiannis Artopios, the fire department's deputy spokesman, the winds were so intense that firefighters on the ground struggled to open their vehicle doors.