Two Australian firefighting helicopters have crashed in efforts to manage wildfires heading towards Athens on Sunday.

The helicopters, manufactured and leased by Australian company McDermott Aviation, collided due to strong winds.

Occupants of one helicopter, a Greek and a Danish national, were confirmed dead after being retrieved and taken to hospital. The crew from the other helicopter survived the crash and were rescued.

John McDermott, founder and president of McDermott Aviation, has expressed sorrow in the wake of the incident.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families, friends and colleagues of those affected by this tragic incident,” he said. 

“McDermott Aviation is working closely with the relevant authorities and will continue to assist as they undertake their investigation into the incident.”

The rise of the fires across the capital of Greece has also managed to wipe out over 100 homes surrounding the coastal village of Porto Germano. 

Forest commandos and over 500 firefighters have been dispatched to keep the flames at bay. 

Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has made it clear in a recent statement that citizens should be wary as “extremely difficult” days are ahead. 

Photo: By Salam2009 found HERE and is used under a Creative Commons License. This image has not been modified.