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Both pilots die after Greek firefighting plane crashes

Fire fighting plane drops water over a wildfire close to village of Vati in the southern part of the Greek island of Rhodes, July 23rd 2023
Fire fighting plane drops water over a wildfire close to village of Vati in the southern part of the Greek island of Rhodes, July 23rd 2023 Copyright  SPYROS BAKALIS/AFP or licensors
Copyright SPYROS BAKALIS/AFP or licensors
By Daniel Bellamy & AFP
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The water bomber crashed on Tuesday while fighting forest fires on the southern Greek island of Evia, fire department spokesman Yannis Artopios said.

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"A Greek Canadair plane with at least two people on board crashed near Platanisto," Artopios said, referring to a village on the island.

The two pilots who died belonged to the Greek Air Force, according to information from the Ministry of Defence, quoted by state broadcaster ERT.

According to initial information from the authorities, the aircraft, which was taking part with at least three other aircraft and around 100 firefighters in the fight against the flames on the island near Athens, crashed into a ravine.

Greece has been plagued by fires and scorching temperatures for more than ten days. 

The accident occurred on the heights of Karystos, where a fire started on Sunday.

ERT broadcast a video of the aircraft as it crashed and disappeared behind flames and a cloud of black smoke.

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