Two Greek air force pilots tragically lost their lives after their water-bombing plane crashed while fighting wildfires on the Greek island of Evia. The incident occurred during efforts to combat a forest fire near Platanistos. The pilots were identified as 34-year-old Cdr Christos Moulas and his co-pilot, 27-year-old Pericles Stefanidis.

The accident took place as the Canadair aircraft was flying at low altitude to drop water on a fire. It suddenly veered into a hillside, resulting in a burst of flames, as shown on Greek TV. The crash occurred over the town of Karystos, where a fire was raging. The plane was part of a team comprising at least three other aircraft and around 100 firefighters fighting wildfires on Evia.

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias expressed his condolences, stating that the pilots lost their lives “in the line of duty… while attempting to protect the lives and property of citizens, as well as the environment of our country.” The Greek armed forces declared a three-day mourning period in their honor.

Meanwhile, an intense heatwave across Europe has sparked wildfires in Sicily, Algeria, and Tunisia. The Italian island of Sicily has also been battling fires, with the city of Palermo facing encircling blazes, leading to the temporary closure of Palermo airport. Northern Italy has experienced violent storms and high winds that caused damage and injuries.

The Mediterranean region is facing a challenging wildfire season, and Greek island Crete has been placed on high alert due to the extreme risk of fire. Evacuations have taken place from Rhodes, with over 20,000 people evacuated from homes and resorts recently.

The situation has been exacerbated by human-caused climate change, as confirmed by an international panel of scientists, highlighting the urgent need to address climate-related challenges to mitigate the impact on communities and ecosystems.