Greece Army to Help Fight Forest Fires
Greece’s army will support the fire service and local authorities in fighting the dozens of forest fires raging in the country.
The most extensive fires are currently in Ilia on the Peloponnese peninsula and on the famous tourist island of Evia, where people and villages were also evacuated on Thursday, Greek media reported.
The danger in the Peloponnese for ancient Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games, has passed for the time being after a night of extinguishing. The fires that threatened suburbs of the capital Athens are under control, but the fire service is still active there.
Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos confirmed after government consultations that the armed forces are coming to the rescue with helicopters, drones and soldiers.
In addition to 500 soldiers, 39 aircraft and 63 vehicles, including bulldozers, are also deployed. Patrols on the ground and in the air in areas with a high fire risk should ensure rapid intervention. A team is also being put together to assist in the event of evacuations.
“Nightmare Without End” and “Burning Everywhere Everywhere” ran the headlines. As the drought and high temperatures continue, for the time being, the Greeks are expected to face difficult days, according to the head of civil defence.
