Greece is currently facing a severe wildfire crisis, with 220 forest and agricultural fires reported across the country since Monday. This includes a major blaze that ignited near Agios Vasileios and spread towards Porto Germeno and into the forested mountains west of Athens, subsequently affecting western Attica. The wildfires have scorched approximately 10,000 hectares, or 40 to 50 square kilometers, of land, with one expert suggesting the blaze could be classified as a "megafire." Thousands of residents have been evacuated from communities like Kandili, Agia Skepi, Toutouli, and Porto Germeno, with some evacuations conducted by sea.
The firefighting efforts have been significantly complicated by gale-force winds, reaching up to 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour, which have driven the flames and prevented aerial support from effectively collecting water. A tragic incident occurred when two leased Bell-model firefighting helicopters, part of a fleet from Australia's McDermott Aviation, collided mid-air in the Psatha area west of Athens while battling a wildfire. Two crew members, a Greek and a Danish national, died in the crash, bringing the total death toll from this week's fires to five, following the deaths of three firefighters in Crete and the Peloponnese. The crew of the second helicopter, a Greek and a British national, survived the collision. All Bell-model helicopters involved in Psatha operations have been grounded pending investigation.
The wildfires have resulted in the arrest of 33 individuals suspected of arson, including two Greek nationals on suspicion of negligence, with another suspect still at large. The fire in Boeotia, which spread to Attica, is believed to have been caused by sparks from conductors on a private network transmitting electricity from wind turbines. The eastern front of the main fire is about 35 kilometers from Athens, and emergency crews are focused on preventing its advance towards the coastal town of Megara, which has a population of around 30,000. Officials have described the situation as "extremely difficult" and the fire department as "pushed to its limits" amid the extreme weather conditions.
