The missing passenger has since been rescued after a helicopter crash off the Greek island of Samos. He swam to shore on his own and was discovered there, the Greek coast guard said. Two helpers were killed on Wednesday when a helicopter crashed into the sea while putting out the fire.
The pilot was rescued and taken to hospital with serious injuries. On board the helicopter were a Romanian, two Moldovans and a Greek translator. The reason for the helicopter crash is still unclear. When the four helpers wanted to get water from the sea to fight a fire, they suddenly fell.
Fight Flames Continues
The forest fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon and is not yet completely under control. The battle against the flames lasted until Thursday evening. Several towns on Samos were evacuated as a precaution. On Samos and in many other parts of Greece there are currently ongoing forest fires due to the heat and drought. A large fire raged at the port city of Alexandroupolis on Thursday afternoon. According to mayor Giannis Zamboukis, 18 children from an SOS Children’s Village have been taken to safety as a precaution. The fire service estimates that forest fires could first break out in Athens and the surrounding area, but also on the islands of Crete and Lesvos.
Forest Fires in Turkey
As reported, other popular holiday countries such as Italy, Croatia and Portugal are also affected. In Turkey, a fire broke out on the Datca peninsula on Wednesday, which is now under control. More than 3,500 people have temporarily left their homes, emergency services cooled the area.
Up to 38 degrees in Austria
In the coming days, some European countries expect temperatures of around 40 degrees Celsius. Maximum temperatures of 37 degrees were predicted on the Spanish island of Mallorca. It should be cooler again on Tuesday at the earliest. There has been a drought for weeks in Italy and other regions could declare a state of emergency. Temperatures are also rising in Austria, but such peak values are not expected. Still, it is forecast for the coming week to 38 degrees.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
