[kellyhound]

Europe struggles with record-breaking summer heat as wildfires ravage Greece, France, and Spain, sparking mass evacuations.

Two firefighting helicopters have collided in midair while battling a wind-driven wildfire near the Greek capital, sending one aircraft crashing to the ground and killing two people.

This comes as parts of Europe have been ravaged by wildfires this summer after a period of record-breaking heatwaves and little rain – conditions that scientists say have been exacerbated by climate change.

Four crew members were recovered after the collision in the area of Psatha, west of Athens, on Sunday. The deceased from the first Bell 214ST were a Danish pilot and a Greek fire service coordinator, while the survivors are a British pilot and a Greek liaison officer.

Video showed one of the helicopters explode and plunge to the ground in flames after an apparent rotor collision. Investigations had started into what caused the collision, the fire service said.

The teams were in the Psatha area battling wildfires that have destroyed more than a hundred homes and forced evacuations across Greece.

Separately, firefighters were battling to contain a blaze around Porto Germeno on the Gulf of Corinth, where flames crossed a mountain and reached a military firing range, activating unexploded ammunition.

Nearly 500 firefighters have been deployed, with reinforcements also arriving from France and Romania.

[tspang80]

Nopa