Two firefighting helicopters collided while fighting wildfires west of Athens on Sunday, Greece's fire department said.

A search and rescue operation for the crews is under way in the Psatha area, it added.

Greek firefighters have been battling to control a huge wildfire that has destroyed over 100 homes northwest of Athens, while a fresh blaze forced evacuations on the popular tourist island of Kefalonia.

“During the aerial firefighting operation, two BELL helicopters, leased by the fire department, with a crew of two people each, crashed in the wider area of Psatha, Attica,” the Greek fire service said in a statement.

“The helicopters had taken off from the Elefsina military airport.”

Europe has been ravaged by wildfires this summer after a period of record-breaking heatwaves and little rain - conditions that scientists say have been exacerbated by climate change.

Crew of one helicopter safe

The crew of one of the helicopters have been located and is safe, government officials said.

An ambulance is on its way to pick the crew up, it added.

As for the second crew, the helicopter has been located and a search and rescue operation is underway for its occupants.

Stay with us as we bring you more on the rescue operation.

Two firefighting helicopters collide while battling Greece wildfire

Two firefighting helicopters collided in Greece while helping to control a huge wildfire on Sunday that has destroyed more than 100 homes northwest of Athens, while a fresh blaze forced evacuations on the popular tourist island of Kefalonia.

Europe has been ravaged by wildfires this summer after a period of record-breaking heatwaves and little rain – conditions that scientists say have been exacerbated by climate change.

Destructive blazes in France and Spain showed signs of easing over the weekend, but several wildfires have broken out in Greece after a period of relative calm there.

Two helicopters collided during a firefighting operation in the area of Psatha in the Attica region, west of Athens, Greece's fire service said in a statement.

Footage posted on the Forecast Weather Greece Facebook page appeared to show two helicopters closing to cross paths at low altitude, before the main rotor of the lower helicopter struck the underside of the one flying above it and crashed in flames. The second helicopter then dumped its load of water and flew away.