Greek air force water-dropping plane crashes while diving into a wildfire, with both pilots feared dead
Michael Varaklas and Derek Gatopoulos, Associated PressWARNING; DISTURBING: Video from a state TV newscast shows a firefighting plane crashing in southern Greece on Tuesday as authorities battled fires across the country.A Greek air force water-dropping plane crashed while diving into a wildfire in southern Greece on Tuesday, with both pilots feared dead, as authorities battled blazes that have been raging for days across the country amid a return of heat wave temperatures.
A third successive heat wave in Greece pushed temperatures back above 40 degrees Celsius across parts of the country Tuesday amid a string of evacuations from fires that have raged out of control for days, whipped on by strong winds. A Greek fire service spokesman said the worst blazes on Tuesday were on the southeastern island of Rhodes and the northwestern island of Corfu -- both which are popular tourist destinations.
"For the twelfth day, under extreme conditions of heat and strong winds, we are fighting nonstop on dozens of forest fire fronts. ... The Greek Fire Service has battled more than 500 fires -- more than 50 a day," said Vassilis Kikilias, the minister for climate crisis and civil protection. In a series of online posts, Sumakovic described frantic scenes as she and Petrusev escaped the fire.
Two full charter flights were scheduled to depart from Sweden on Wednesday, Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet said. Tour operators said holidaymakers would be heading to resorts in the so-far unaffected northern part of Rhodes.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Plane fighting wildfires in Greece crashes with two aboardA plane fighting wildfires in Greece crashed on Tuesday and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned of tough days ahead with blazes destroying homes and forcing the evacuation of thousands of tourists from the island of Rhodes.
Read more »
Tourists flee Rhodes wildfires in Greece’s largest-ever evacuation(CNN) — A large wildfire tearing through the Greek island of Rhodes forced thousands of tourists to flee their hotels in what Greek officials said was the largest evacuation effort in the cou…
Read more »
Greek authorities evacuate people as wildfire blazesSome 19,000 people have been evacuated from the Greek island of Rhodes as wildfires continued burning for a sixth day on three fronts, Greek authorities said on Sunday.
Read more »
Greek authorities evacuate some 19,000 people as wildfire blazes on the island of RhodesA wildfire raging on the Greek island of Rhodes forced thousands of tourists and island residents to shelter in schools and indoor stadiums on Sunday after they were evacuated from coastal villages and resorts.
Read more »
Fire still blazing on the Greek island of Rhodes as dozens more erupt across the country.Drone footage shows wildfire burning on the Greek island of Rhodes, where thousands of tourists and residents have been evacuated, as fires spread across the country.
Read more »