Two die as firefighting helicopters collide in Greece, French blaze changes course

There was a clash between two firefighting helicopters while battling an enormous wildfire in Greece on Sunday. This particular fire, which has already razed down over 100 houses northwest of Athens, is among the many wildfires burning across the nation.

Two of the four people onboard the helicopter were killed due to this accident. It is reported by the fire service that the victims include a Greek and a Danish citizen, while the other two — one from Greece and one from Britain,survived the crash.

This summer has witnessed Europe being hit by wildfires following record-breaking heatwaves with minimal rainfall, which scientists say has been made worse by climate change.

France and Spain have seen some relief amid their own massive wildfires; however, several new wildfires have erupted in Greece after an otherwise calm situation.

This collision between the two helicopters occurred in the vicinity of Psatha in the Attica region in Greece, according to the Greek fire service.

Videos showing the accident being broadcasted on the Forecast Weather Greece Facebook page showed two helicopters passing each other very closely from low altitudes when the rotor of the one flying lower struck the bottom part of the other helicopter.

Then, the lower helicopter crashed into the ground, ablaze. The other helicopter dumped all its water and took off. Reuters could not verify the videos' legitimacy.

Investigations suggested the fire that started in the Greek region of Boeotia before spreading to Attica was caused by sparks from conductors on a private network transmitting electricity generated by ​wind turbines to the main power grid, the eKathimerini website reported.

Two Greek nationals were arrested on suspicion of negligence, while another suspect remains at large, the report said.