A Canadair plane fighting fires in Greece crashed on Tuesday near Platanistos on the island of Euboea in the south of the country. There were two men on board. The armed forces reported that they did not survive the crash.
State broadcaster ERT said the accident happened near Platanistos on the island of Euboea in southern Greece, close to Athens, where one of the country’s fires is raging. Greek media reports that a Canadair plane extinguished fires in a hard-to-reach area.
According to the Greek Air Force, the Canadair CL-215 crashed at 14.52 local time (13.52 in Poland). A Super Puma helicopter and a Bell 205 Air Force helicopter arrived at the scene.
In the evening, the air force confirmed the deaths of two men who were on board the plane – a 34-year-old captain and the co-pilot, a 27-year-old second lieutenant.
The wreckage of a Canadair firefighting plane near the town of Platanistos on the island of EuboeaPAP/EPA/GEORGE VITSARAS
ERT released a video showing the moment of the disaster.
What does a firefighting operation look like from an airplane? Interview with pilot Jędrzej Wiler.TVN24 BIS
Greece on fire
The fight against the element continues in Greece. There have been an average of 50 new fires a day in the last 12 days. No death toll has been reported at this time, Reuters reported.
The fifth alert level, meaning “extreme fire risk”, has been in effect in Crete since Tuesday.
This alert is scheduled for tomorrow in Attica, Boeotia, Phthiotis, Magnesia, Corinthia, Argolis, Achaia, Phokis and the island of Euboea.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/GEORGE VITSARAS