Firefighting plane crashes in Greece

Amidst the sweltering temperatures sweeping across Europe, wildfires are raging on several of Greece's popular tourist islands. Tragically, a firefighting plane has crashed while battling the flames. Additionally, in Italy, Palermo's airport has been reopened after it was forced to shut down due to nearby blazes. To combat the wildfires, firefighters from 11 European countries are lending their support to Greece's firefighting efforts in various regions of the country.

Presently, around 500 firefighters, 100 vehicles, and seven planes have joined the battle against the blazes. Among the contributing nations is Italy, which is currently grappling with its own fires and extreme weather at home. Several other countries, including Turkey, Israel, and Egypt, have also dispatched assistance.

As per a fire service spokesperson, the most severe fires are currently wreaking havoc on the tourist hotspots of Rhodes in the southeast and Corfu in the northwest. The situation is further complicated by recurring instances of fire flaring up in other areas.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the challenges ahead during a meeting with ministers to discuss the response to the wildfires. He emphasized that the country is bracing for another difficult summer, even though conditions might improve after Thursday. He acknowledged that Greece, like the entire planet, faces the impacts of climate change and stressed that no magical defense mechanism exists to combat these challenges.

Over the past few weeks, Greece has experienced record-high temperatures, and the forecast indicates that the heatwave will continue until Wednesday, with certain regions reaching temperatures over 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 Fahrenheit).

In a separate incident, Palermo's airport in Sicily had to shut down briefly due to wildfires in the vicinity. Though the airport has now reopened, only a limited number of outbound flights are currently allowed. However, one plane from Turin, Italy, was able to land despite the disruptions caused by a major blaze in the nearby area, exacerbated by strong winds. Tragically, one woman lost her life as an ambulance couldn't reach her home due to the fire.

Italy is also contending with extreme weather, as heavy storms have caused damage and resulted in at least two fatalities in the northern part of the country.