Two Greek pilots lost their lives when their Canadair CL-215 water-bombing plane crashed into a hillside while fighting wildfires in Evia. The tragic incident occurred as the aircraft was attempting to target a conflagration near a village outside Karystos. The air force, which owns the plane, confirmed that both pilots had perished in the crash.
Aviation experts revealed that the plane was flying low to get close to the flames when its right wing clipped a tree, causing the aircraft to spin out of control. The armed forces immediately declared three days of mourning in honor of the two men.
Just days after the pilots’ deaths, a third individual was found dead on Tuesday, and a DNA test is required to confirm whether this person is the missing shepherd who vanished on Sunday.
As the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, faced a press conference, he acknowledged that the Mediterranean is a “hotspot for climate change,” with temperatures expected to reach record highs. He expressed concern that the heatwave would be the longest on record in Greece, adding that the country is “at war with fire.”
Mitsotakis’s remarks came as wildfires ravaged the country for eight days, fueled by heat and high winds. Fires have engulfed virgin forests on several islands, including Rhodes, Evia, and Corfu, and forced thousands of people to evacuate. Almost 20,000 tourists, primarily holidaymakers, had to flee hotels in the biggest evacuation operation in Greek history.
Greece HeatwaveIn Rhodes, firefighters and local residents battled blazes, backed by two water-bomber planes and two helicopters. On Corfu, fires rekindled, and evacuation orders were issued to at least two villages. In Evia, at least seven villages were evacuated, and firefighters worked to contain flames that had encroached on communities.
As the situation worsened, the prime minister urged Greeks to remain on high alert, citing the higher temperatures, dryness, and strong winds that have characterized the heatwave. He warned that Wednesday and Thursday would be particularly challenging days.
Turkey’s wildfires also raged, prompting the evacuation of a resort town, while Evia experienced some of the worst infernos on record in 2021.
With temperatures expected to drop by as much as 8C from Thursday, the repatriation of tourists began, with airlines operating flights to take people home. Mitsotakis assured that Rhodes would remain the “flagship of tourism” in Greece, where the industry accounts for roughly 25% of GDP. He pledged to compensate Greeks whose lives have been affected by the wildfires.
As Greece braves a difficult summer, the country’s leader acknowledged that the battle against climate change would be a long and arduous one.