12.08.2024 22:40
Turkey has started efforts to support Greece, which has been battling forest fires for hours. The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Öncü Keçeli, made a statement regarding the fire near the capital Athens, where 9 villages have been evacuated, many houses have been burned, and 3 hospitals have been evacuated. Keçeli announced that two firefighting planes and a helicopter will be sent to Greece.
A fire that started in Varnava near the capital of Greece, Athens, and spread to various parts of Attiki due to strong winds has led to the evacuation of 9 villages and 3 hospitals. Turkey has reportedly initiated efforts to send two firefighting planes and a helicopter to Greece to support in the fight against the fire.
According to the news in the Greek press, despite the intervention of hundreds of firefighters, the fire that broke out in the northern parts of the capital Athens could not be brought under control, leading to the evacuation of many residential areas. It was reported that after the evacuation of Penteli Children's Hospital and 414th Military Hospital in the morning, Amalia Felming Hospital has now been evacuated.
TURKEY PROVIDES HELICOPTER AND AIRCRAFT SUPPORT TO NEIGHBOR
It was reported that Turkey has initiated efforts to send two firefighting planes and a helicopter to Greece to support in the fight against the fire. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Öncü Keçeli used the expression "Necessary efforts have been initiated to send two firefighting planes and a helicopter to our neighbor Greece, which is struggling with the fires affecting Athens." in a post on social media.
"WE ARE FACING A DANGEROUS FIRE"
In Greece, where the hottest June and July since 1960 have been recorded, officials announced that many houses have turned to ashes due to the fire that continues to spread due to strong winds. Greek Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias said, "We are facing an extremely dangerous fire that we have been struggling with under dramatic conditions for 20 hours."
"FOLLOW EVACUATION ORDERS" CALL
Vasilyos Vathrakoyannis, spokesperson for the Greek Fire Brigade, stated that the teams are working under difficult conditions and called on citizens to comply with evacuation orders. Vathrakoyannis stated that some of those who refused to comply with the evacuation orders were trapped in their homes and said, "Firefighters risk their lives during rescue operations. Citizens must comply with evacuation orders."
2 FIREFIGHTERS AND 15 PEOPLE INJURED
Vathrakogiannis said that so far, 2 firefighters and 13 citizens have been slightly injured. The Athens Medical Association warned individuals with chronic illnesses, the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and citizens with respiratory and heart problems to be cautious in the fire-affected areas. It was reported in the news that teams from France, Italy, and the Czech Republic will come to Greece to participate in firefighting efforts within the framework of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.
FIRE FIGHTING EFFORTS CONTINUE
More than 500 firefighters, 152 fire trucks, numerous volunteers, 17 firefighting planes, and 15 helicopters are intervening in the fire that broke out yesterday afternoon. Police and fire teams had evacuated more than 200 people, mostly elderly and those who did not heed warnings. Meteorology experts and government officials had warned citizens about the increasing forest fires due to weather conditions until Thursday, and Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilias had stated that half of the country would be under "red alert".
Meanwhile, at least 28 people died and more than 20 people were injured in forest fires in Greece in 2023.