Helicopter Collision Deepens Greece’s Expanding Wildfire Emergency
Two firefighting helicopters collided while battling a major blaze west of Athens, compounding Greece’s wildfire emergency. Across the region, drought-driven low river levels are also disrupting nuclear and hydroelectric power.
Two helicopters collide as Greece battles wildfires, Hungary shuts nuclear plant
Greek firefighting helicopters in mid-air collision, four crew missing
Four Crew Missing After Two Helicopters Collide Over Greece
Danube's record low levels force shutdown of Hungary's only nuclear plant
Two firefighting helicopters collide west of Athens as Greece battles wildfires
A rescue mission amid a widening fire front
Two firefighting helicopters collided over the Psatha area west of Athens on Sunday as crews fought a wind-driven blaze across western Attica. One aircraft crashed in flames; officials said the crew of the other helicopter had been found safe, while rescuers searched for the occupants of the downed aircraft.nbcnews The Greek fire service said each helicopter carried a two-person crew.france24
The collision came as nearly 500 firefighters, joined by reinforcements from France and Romania, worked to contain fires that have destroyed more than 100 homes and forced evacuations.aljazeera Emergency alerts covered settlements in western Attica, including an industrial area near Megara, a coastal city of about 30,000 people.nbcnews
Flames press toward communities and military ground
Gale-force winds around Porto Germeno had eased, but the fire crossed a mountain, reached the settlement of Veniza and entered a military firing range, where unexploded ammunition began detonating. Crews concentrated on stopping the flames from advancing toward Megara, while local reporting estimated that more than 10,000 hectares had already burned.nbcnews
A separate fire on Kefalonia prompted overnight evacuations in the island’s south. Authorities arrested a 44-year-old man on suspicion of deliberately starting that blaze, while fires in France and Spain showed signs of easing or remained largely under control.aljazeera The uneven picture leaves Greece at the sharp edge of a European fire season intensified by prolonged heat, scarce rain and dry vegetation.
Drought strains the region’s power systems
The same weather pattern is disrupting energy supplies farther north. Hungary shut its only nuclear station, Paks, for the first time in its 44-year history after the Danube fell too low to supply reactor cooling water; the plant normally provides more than 40% of national electricity generation.dw Prime Minister Péter Magyar warned that the shutdown could last weeks and urged consumers to shift electricity use away from the 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. peak.dw
The Danube’s decline is broader than Hungary. Romania had already shut one of two reactors at Cernavodă, while shipping disruptions included a grounded river cruise vessel near Vidin, Bulgaria.bbc In Serbia, low river levels forced the two largest hydroelectric plants down to 20% and 30% of capacity.aljazeera Together, the fires and power cuts show how one stretch of extreme heat can simultaneously test emergency aviation, evacuation systems, river transport and electricity grids across Europe.
29 sources
reuters
Two helicopters collide as Greece battles wildfires, Hungary shuts nuclear plant
Two firefighting helicopters collided as crews fought a major wildfire west of Athens.
aljazeera
Greek firefighting helicopters in mid-air collision, four crew missing
Four pilots were reported missing as nearly 500 firefighters battled fires near Athens.
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Four Crew Missing After Two Helicopters Collide Over Greece
Search-and-rescue operations began for helicopter crew members after the collision.
bbc.co
Danube's record low levels force shutdown of Hungary's only nuclear plant
Record-low Danube water levels forced the shutdown of Hungary's only nuclear plant.
nbcnews
Two firefighting helicopters collide west of Athens as Greece battles wildfires
Officials said one helicopter crew was safe while a search continued for the second crew.
latimes
2 firefighting helicopters collide midair near Athens as Europe’s wildfire emergency rages
One helicopter crashed near Porto Germeno after a midair collision.
jpost
Two helicopters collide mid-air in Greece while fighting wildfires near Athens
Two helicopters collided while participating in firefighting operations near Athens.
firstpost
Two firefighting helicopters collide as Greece battles devastating wildfires near Athens
The aircraft collided during efforts to contain a wildfire in the Psatha area.
trtworld
Two firefighting helicopters collide in Greece while battling wildfire
Search-and-rescue teams mobilised after the firefighting aircraft collision.
timesofindia.indiatimes
Firefighting helicopters collide mid-air as Greece battles massive wildfire
The collision occurred over the Attica region during a major firefighting operation.
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Two firefighting helicopters collided as forces battled multiple Greek wildfires.
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Two helicopters collide mid-air in Greece, search underway for crew members
A search began for crew members after two firefighting helicopters collided.
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Greek firefighting helicopters collided while wildfires continued to spread.
dw
Hungary to shut sole nuclear plant for first time on Sunday
Paks went offline as record-low Danube levels threatened reactor cooling and the power grid.
aljazeera
Hungary plans to shut down only nuclear power plant amid drought
Hungarian officials announced a shutdown of the country's sole nuclear plant amid drought.
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Hungary to shut down sole nuclear plant as Danube falls to record low, PM says
Hungary prepared to power down Paks as the Danube dropped to record lows.
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Hungary announced the closure of its sole nuclear plant during a heat wave.
hurriyetdailynews
Hungary PM announces closure of nuclear plant due to heat wave
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aa.com
Hungary's Paks Nuclear Power Plant to shut down for first time in 44 years
Paks was set to halt operations for the first time in 44 years.
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Hungary shuts down its nuclear plant due to heat wave
Hungary's only nuclear plant fully shut as the Danube reached historic lows.
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Hungary PM announces closure of nuclear plant due to heatwave
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Hungary to shut nuclear plant as heatwave hits central Europe
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Hungary’s only nuclear plant could shut down as Danube hits record lows
Paks faced an unprecedented shutdown because of insufficient Danube cooling water.
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Extreme heat wave across Europe fuels wildfires in France, Greece, drought in Hungary
Heat and drought fueled wildfires while drying the Danube across Europe.
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Greek fires destroyed homes as drought forced Hungary's nuclear plant offline.
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Hungary braces for nuclear plant shutdown as Danube hits record lows
The Danube's decline threatened a plant that supplies nearly half of Hungary's power.
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Greece Battles Wildfires While Hungary Shuts Nuclear Plant Over Drought
Wildfires and drought strained emergency and energy systems across Europe.
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Fire spread deeper into Athens region
Each helicopter carried a two-person crew as a rescue operation began west of Athens.