- Greece is fighting forest fires
- Constant fight with the natural disaster
Greece is fighting forest fires
Croatia and Italy have sent three firefighting planes to Greece to help fight raging forest fires. Athens has asked for help from other European Union (EU) members.
The planes will help to quell a series of fast-spreading fires in the northern Peloponnese region, the European Commission (EC) said on Tuesday. The press release said the EU is also helping Greek local authorities map satellite images and monitor fire danger forecasts.
This is the third time this fire season that Greece has requested assistance from EU Member States, the EC said. Previously, EU countries have sent five firefighting planes, two helicopters, 115 vehicles, and 348 firefighters.
Constant fight with the natural disaster
On Tuesday, more than 400 firefighters battled a major forest fire in the north of the Peloponnese peninsula for the third consecutive day. NASA satellite images showed that an area of around 75 square kilometers in the Corinth region was affected. Five firefighting helicopters and three planes and more than 120 fire engines were fighting the fire on Tuesday morning. The smoke was so thick that it was visible even from the capital Athens, about 120 kilometres to the east.
ERTNews TV reported that two firefighters were injured while extinguishing the fire. One suffered respiratory problems, and the other was hit in the eye by a hose.
Greek media reported that two volunteers, aged 35 and 40, from the village of Ano Pitsa, died on Monday. A large number of volunteers are still working at the scene. Several villages have been evacuated, and schools in the region will remain closed until further notice.
Based on ELTA reports
