The wildfire raging in Attica, Greece, where a Cypriot team of the Department of Forests is operating, is under control, and the situation remains unchanged, member of the Cypriot mission Stavros Mouchlis, told CNA adding that they are mostly dealing with the flare-ups.
“It’s the same situation, unchanged, high temperatures, small flare-ups” he said, noting that the aircraft are dealing with any flare-ups.
“We are protecting, controlling, patrolling and dealing with flare-ups,” he said.
The mission operates in the area of Corinth, Mandras, Dervenochoria and has not been asked to contribute elsewhere for now.
It is recalled that Cyprus has sent two Air Tractor type aircraft, with a crew of four, and seven more staff for ground support, following a decision by President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides. The assistance to Greece is provided through the Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union.
The Cypriot mission is operating from the Tatoi airbase in the Dervenochoria area together with two Israeli and two Australian aircraft of the same type.
The air means unit of the Department of Forests joined rescEU in mid-June 2023. RescEU has been created within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, with the aim of creating additional units for response, with EU co-financing. The Civil Defence is the contact unit of the mechanism in Cyprus.
Source: Cyprus News Agency