The fire raging in Attica, Greece, where a Cypriot team of the Department of Forests is operating, is under control, member of the Cypriot mission Stavros Mouchlis, told CNA.
He noted however that both today and tomorrow all air and ground forces will be on alert due to the extremely high temperatures that prevail.
In the wider area of Dervenochoria, where the Cypriot mission operates, “the situation is under control”, he said, adding though that fires are always unpredictable.
Asked if there is need for them to offer assistance in the island of Rhodes, where there is another large-scale fire, he said that this will depend on the local authorities, adding that the Cypriot team has already expressed its readiness and is willing to go to Rhodes if necessary.
“We are waiting for the authorities here to give us guidelines,” he said.
Cyprus 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.
It is noted that 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.
Source: Cyprus News Agency