Greek authorities requests European aid to combat wildfires
Greek authorities have officially requested European assistance through the RescEU mechanism to tackle the severe wildfires currently affecting multiple areas across the country. These wildfires have forced the evacuation of at least 5,000 people from areas surrounding the capital city, Athens. Vasilis Vathrakoyannis, spokesperson for the Greek Fire Department, explained during a recent briefing that the authorities have requested six firefighting aircraft. He emphasized that “the fires in recent days have reached large proportions and pose significant danger,” making aerial support critical in controlling the blazes.
On Sunday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis issued a statement on his Facebook page describing the situation as extremely challenging. He said, “The state apparatus had to fight a titanic battle while simultaneously responding to dozens of fires throughout the country.” The previous day, Greece was classified at the highest risk level (Level 5) for wildfires. However, the prime minister reported that “the current outlook has improved, though the fight continues with all available resources.” He also expressed gratitude towards emergency responders for their tireless efforts in combating the fires. Mitsotakis credited the timely activation of the 112 emergency number and the mobilization of all available forces for preventing worse outcomes and saving lives. Furthermore, he assured that the government would provide support to those who have suffered property losses due to the fires.
Throughout the day, a very high fire risk (Category 4) is expected in eleven regions across Greece. The most critical fire fronts remain in Euboea, Messenia, Kythira, and Crete, though conditions in the Attica region have notably improved. The situation continues to demand vigilance and coordinated response efforts as firefighters battle the ongoing emergency.
