Skip to content
Grazia British
Greek government calls for EU disaster response mechanism over blaze

Greek government calls for EU disaster response mechanism over blaze

By Grazia British

Culture

EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help battle the massive wildfire burning across woodland north-east of Athens.

The assistance comes as the Greek government requests the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which helps EU countries respond to emergencies.

The first helicopter from France is due to arrive Monday evening, according to media reports.

Italy plans to send two fire-fighting aircraft by Tuesday and 75 firefighters with 25 vehicles are on their way from the Czech Republic.

A team from Moldova is already on site, while Turkey has also offered help and support from Spain is also expected.

The blaze reached the suburbs of Vrilissia and Penteli in the north-east of Athens in the afternoon.

This was the first time that a major fire had come so close to the Greek capital, experts said on television. The blaze was still around 11 kilometres from Athens' city centre.

Gale-force winds and gusts of up to 70 kilometres per hour are expected to continue until the evening, but the wind is expected to subside for the time being during the night.

A cemetery in Penteli, a municipality in the northern Athens region, is seen shrouded in thick smoke, as wild fires are raging over 200 square kilometers near Athens. EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help emergency services in battling the country's biggest wildfire of the year on Monday, with multiple flash points burning across some 200 square kilometres of woodland north-east of the capital Athens. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpaA cemetery in Penteli, a municipality in the northern Athens region, is seen shrouded in thick smoke, as wild fires are raging over 200 square kilometers near Athens. EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help emergency services in battling the country's biggest wildfire of the year on Monday, with multiple flash points burning across some 200 square kilometres of woodland north-east of the capital Athens. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpa
A firefighter extinguishes a large fire, just a few kilometers northeast of Athens. EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help emergency services in battling the country's biggest wildfire of the year on Monday, with multiple flash points burning across some 200 square kilometres of woodland north-east of the capital Athens. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpaA firefighter extinguishes a large fire, just a few kilometers northeast of Athens. EU member states are sending aid to Greece to help emergency services in battling the country's biggest wildfire of the year on Monday, with multiple flash points burning across some 200 square kilometres of woodland north-east of the capital Athens. Socrates Baltagiannis/dpa

Originally published by yahoo.com. Syndicated material does not necessarily reflect the views of Grazia British.

More Culture

Greek government calls for EU disaster response mechanism over blaze | Grazia British