Greece will send two water-dropping aircraft to neighbouring Albania to assist with the wildfire season, according to European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic.
In 2021, Albania experienced a particularly ferocious wildfire season resulting in two deaths and thousands of hectares of land, including farmland and orchards, destroyed. A lack of aerial fire-fighting equipment as the country’s helicopters are out of service, hampered authorities response to the crisis and resulted in their reliance on other countries, including Greece, to assist.
“The heatwave is whizzing also through southeastern Europe, including the high danger of wildfires. Upon the request for assistance from Albania via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Greece has offered assistance,” he said in a tweet.
The aircraft are reported to be two Canadair-type aircraft.
Meanwhile, a large fire has been reported in the hills around Vajkani in Fier. The flames have engulfed large swathes of land, fanned by strong winds and threatening nearby homes and the Church of Vajkani.
