Fall of Antonov: Live update of the Fire Department

One body has been located while another has already been recovered from the wreckage of the fatal Antonov type aircraft which crashed outside of Kavala in the location of Paleochori.

The above was made known by the emergency briefing held, on the sidelines of the accident, by the press representative of the Fire Department.

At the same time, the operation to retrieve and locate the remaining six bodies continues.

The crew members were of Ukrainian origin.

According to the information provided by the Fire Department, no dangerous substances were found at the scene.

As described by the Fire Department’s press representative, the authorities were informed immediately after the impact that the aircraft was carrying 11.5 tons of ammunition and a large-scale operation was immediately set up at the scene.

“Now the second phase has started. Army personnel and 30 firefighters will set up safe passageways for the transport and decontamination of the bodies.”

EL.AS forces are assisting in the ongoing investigations. as well as a Search and Rescue Center helicopter.

At the same time, the second phase of the operation has begun, with the participation of qualified personnel of the Greek army and 30 firefighters to create safe passageways and transport bodies to a decontamination area.

Forces from ELAS, the local government and EKAB are also assisting, as well as the helicopter of the unified coordination center for search and rescue, while, as Mr. Artophios pointed out, all actions are carried out in cooperation and with the constant presence of forces available to the General Staff national defense.

Furthermore, as he summarized, the political leadership of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection was in continuous communication throughout the evening with all the co-competent ministries, National Defence, Foreign Affairs, Citizen Protection, Health and Environment as well as with the independent Air Accidents Investigation Authority for better coordination and reliable gathering of information about the incident. After the tragic event of the plane crash yesterday one hour before midnight between the settlements of Antifilippi and Paleochori in Eleftheroupoli Kavala, 15 firefighters with 7 vehicles from the nearest fire services immediately went to the scene.

Firefighters from the special teams from the 2nd and 4th EMAK, two special vehicles for the collection of hazardous materials, the mobile operational center Olympus and a group of unmanned aerial vehicles which have already located bodies were then dispatched. As Mr. Artophios mentioned, in cooperation with all agencies, the action protocol was implemented in accordance with European and international standards, with priorities being the creation of a security perimeter on the one hand, but also the blocking of the accident area, given the information that the aircraft was carrying cargo 11, 5 tons with ammunition.

A little later, as he pointed out, the residents of the area of ​​the accident were informed through a message from 112 to close the windows and doors as a precaution due to the smoke caused by the fall of the aircraft and the fire at the point of impact, but also not to approach and the area of ​​the accident. The General Staff of the National Defense from the first moment made available minefield clearing units and then the team of the special interdisciplinary nuclear, biological, chemical defense company that went directly to the scene of the accident from Athens. A team of environmental inspectors has also been sent to the accident site.

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