Since new ones broke out fires in the area of Feron in Alexandroupolithe EU dispatches through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism two firefighting aircraft of the rescEU fleet located in Cyprus and a team of Romanian firefighters.

A total of 56 firefighters and 10 vehicles are expected to arrive in the country today. In addition, a ground firefighting team sent in advance from France is already in Greece as part of the EU forest fire season preparedness plan.

Crisis Management Commissioner Mr. Yanes Lenarcic said: “Last July was by far the worst that Greece has experienced since 2008 in terms of forest fires. Burned areas are larger and fires are more intense and violent, resulting in more land being destroyed than in the past. The fire in Feres of Alexandroupolis has already affected houses and led to the evacuation of eight villages. The immediate response of the EU is again necessary and I thank Cyprus and Romania for providing assistance to the Greek firefighters who are already on the ground participating in the extinguishing operations.”

This assistance follows the EU’s response to Greece’s previous request to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism last month, when 9 aircraft, 510 firefighters and 117 vehicles were mobilized. In addition, the EU’s Copernicus satellite mapping makes it possible to assess damage in different areas of the territory.

The Commission remains in close contact with the Greek authorities through the Emergency Response Coordination Center and stands ready to mobilize additional assistance if needed.

Athena Papakosta