Cyprus aid to Greece to fight fires

Cyprus is sending aid to Greece to deal with the forest fires in Greece, it was reported on Wednesday.

In its announcement, the Forestry Department stated that after consultation with Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou, aid is to be sent through the civil defence mechanism of the European Union to help extinguish the fires which were raging through Xylokastro in the Peloponnese.

The EU emergency response coordination centre’s request was for the dispatch of aerial assets and the Cypriot mission consists of two Air Tractor type airplanes of the forestry department, manned by a crew of five with an additional five ground support staff.

The departure took place in the morning from Paphos airport bound for Tatoiou airbase, with a stopover at Rhodes for refuelling.

It was estimated that the mission would be in Athens around 11.30am to begin immediate assistance after a briefing.

On Tuesday seven mission volunteers left for Athens (a pilot, aircraft engineer, the mission manager, and support staff). The expedition will remain in Greece for three days.

Two Jordanian Air Tractor type aircraft, based in Cyprus, also departed from Larnaca airport bound for Greece with a crew of four, after approval was secured from the authorities of the Kingdom of Jordan and the Republic. Three more ground support staff will also depart in the course of the day.