Czech Republic to send firefighters, vehicles to help combat wildfires in Greece

The Czech Republic will send 36 firefighters and 15 fire engines to help combat extensive wildfires near Athens which have claimed two lives.

ČTK

Written by ČTK Published on 07.08.2021 09:37:00 (updated on 07.08.2021) Reading time: 1 minute

The Czech Republic will send help to Greece in the country's fight against extensive forest fires, Interior Minister Jan Hamáček has decided after discussing the issue with Foreign Minister Jakub Kulhánek.

A total of 15 fire engines with crew of 36 firefighters will leave the Czech Republic and travel to Greece on Saturday. 

According to AFP, two people have been reported dead amid the wildfires near Athens. Thousands more have had to flee their homes when fires broke about 20 kilometers north of the Greek capital.

Firefighters had the flames under control on Thursday morning, but they broke out again due to strong winds and temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius.

Additional Czech aid, involving police officers and firefighters, was also sent to Albania yesterday to assist with devastating fires.

A multi-purpose Czech police helicopter with a water bucket and five-member crew was sent to assist in the fight against fires in south Albania.

Large-scale forest fires are currently tormenting several countries in the Mediterranean, including 56 fires in Greece alone.

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