Europe to the rescue of countries in the throes of fires… The European Commission announced on Wednesday the dispatch of planes, helicopters and firefighters to Italy, Greece, Albania and North Macedonia where the The heat of recent weeks has caused intense forest fires.

Two Canadair type planes, from France, are sent to the affected areas in Italy, details the European executive in a press release.

Two firefighting planes from Cyprus are providing support to Greece, in addition to a firefighting team tasked with supporting operations on the ground, it said.

Two helicopters to support operations in Albania will also be sent from the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, and Slovenia is sending a team of 45 firefighters to North Macedonia.

75% of transport costs covered by the European Commission

This aid is mobilized within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the Commission covers at least 75% of the costs related to transport.

“We are working around the clock to send aid as fires rage in Europe,” commented EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic, thanking the contributing countries.

“EU Civil Protection ensures that our existing firefighting tools are used to their full potential.

This is a great example of EU solidarity in times of need, ”he said.

Many fronts for firefighters to fight

The EU has already sent three water bombers this week to Turkey, which has suffered the worst fires in a decade.

These fires, which killed eight people, devastated forests and agricultural lands as well as inhabited areas on the coasts.

In Greece, hit for a week by the worst heatwave in three decades, firefighters were fighting several fires on Wednesday, including a major fire north of Athens, where 300 people had to be evacuated on Tuesday evening.

In Albania, a man was killed Tuesday in a forest fire in the region of Gjirokastrale (south), where hundreds of firefighters and soldiers were fighting dozens of fires.

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