ATHENS: A tragic incident occurred on Tuesday as a firefighting plane crashed while battling a forest fire on the Greek island of Evia, according to the fire service spokesperson. The plane, identified as a Greek Canadair, went down into a ravine at the heights of Karystos, an area affected by a fire that began on Sunday.
The spokesperson, Yannis Artopios, confirmed that the plane was carrying at least two people when it crashed near the village of Platanisto in Evia. The missing pilots were members of the Greek Air Force, as reported by the Greek Ministry of Defence and quoted by state TV ERT. A video of the aircraft’s crash, engulfed in flames and black smoke, was released, adding to the tragedy of the incident.
Greek Island Wildfire
At the time of the crash, the firefighting plane was part of a larger effort to combat the wildfires that have been spreading in Greece due to scorching temperatures. Around a hundred firefighters, alongside at least three other aircraft, were also engaged in the battle against the flames on the island of Evia.
The wildfires have caused widespread evacuations in various tourist destinations, including the islands of Rhodes and Corfu. The situation remains challenging for firefighting teams and authorities as they continue their efforts to contain and control the spread of the fires.
