EU firefighters to join effort as Greece battles blaze
Al Jazeera
Hundreds of European firefighters are due to arrive in Greece as the country battles a massive wildfire near Athens.
The fight to control the deadly blaze that has scorched the capital’s suburbs ran into a third day on Tuesday. Several European countries have told Greek authorities that they will send aircraft and firefighters to help bring Greece’s worst wildfire so far this year under control.
Strong winds and scorching temperatures have fed the flames, sending the fire racing across a parched landscape. One person is reported to have died and thousands have been forced to flee as the inferno has wreaked widespread destruction.
At least 66 people have been treated for injuries. Two firefighters have also been hurt.
“We are at a better level,” Costas Tsigkas, head of the association of Greek firefighter officers, told state television ERT early on Tuesday. “But conditions again will not be easy. There will be winds from midday onwards … every hour that passes will be more difficult”, he said.
