1st LD: Two dead, two rescued after helicopter crash off Greek island during firefighting efforts

ATHENS, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Two people died and two were rescued after a helicopter crashed off the Greek island of Samos in the Aegean Sea on Wednesday during efforts to extinguish a wildfire, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported.

The four persons on board the ER-MHY (Mi- 8 MTV-1) type helicopter were three foreign nationals (from Romania and Moldova) and a Greek, according to an e-mailed press release from the Fire Brigade.

Meanwhile, 38 firefighters with 15 fire engines were still battling the blaze on the island, with their efforts hampered by strong winds, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.