RHODES, GREECE (AP) – A firefighting plane crashed in southern Greece yesterday as authorities battled fires across the country amid a return of heat wave temperatures.
The crash occurred on the island of Evia and was aired in a state television broadcast that showed the low-flying aircraft disappearing into a canyon before a fireball was seen moments later. There was no immediate information about the plane’s crew.
A third successive heat wave in Greece pushed temperatures back above 40 degrees Celsius (°C) across parts of the country yesterday following more nighttime evacuations from fires that have raged out of control for days.
The latest evacuation orders were issued on the islands of Corfu and Evia, while a blaze on the island of Rhodes continued to move inland, torching mountainous forest areas, including part of a nature reserve.
Desperate residents, many with wet towels around their necks to stave off the scorching heat, used shovels to beat back flames approaching their homes, while firefighting planes and helicopters resumed water drops at first light.
Authorities said over 20,000 people have been involved in successive evacuations on the island, mostly tourists over the weekend when fire swept through two coastal areas in the southeast of Rhodes.
The European Union (EU) has sent 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles and seven planes from 10 member states, while Turkiye, Egypt and other countries have also sent help.
“For the 12th 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 – over 50 a day,” said Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias.
In Athens, authorities resumed afternoon closing hours at the ancient Acropolis, as part of broader measures to cope with the high heat.
EU officials have blamed climate change for the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires across the European continent, noting that 2022 was the second-worst year for wildfire damage on record after 2017.
