Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    7,523 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws deported in a week    Video contradicts Israeli army account of deadly March 23 strike on Gaza paramedics    Saudi Arabia spends over $241 million to implement de-mining projects in 3 countries    Italy's Meloni government approves controversial security decree expanding police protections and penalties    Egypt submits new Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal: Report    'Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win    Saudi, US military leaders discuss enhanced defense cooperation in Riyadh    King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launches program with Indiana University    Ronaldo brace powers Al Nassr past Al Hilal in Riyadh derby thriller    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Countries send firefighters, aircraft to help Greeks fight fires
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 26 - 08 - 2007


Firefighters and aircraft sent by
Greece's allies and friends joined the fight Sunday against
the country's worst wildfires in decades, AP reported.
A Russian aircraft group had already been there, helping
the Greeks since the end of July in their fight against
fire outbreaks. The fires increased dramatically on Friday
and continue to rage in many areas, killing dozens of
people.
The Russian group includes two heavy fire-fighting
helicopters, two Mi-8 helicopters and a multifunctional
amphibian plane. On Friday and Saturday, Russia said, the
aircraft fought fires in the Peloponnese, the worst-hit
area. The amphibian plane was used Saturday to put out a
serious fire on the slope of Mt. Ymittos and in Athens
suburb Papagou.
France, Spain, Portugal, Norway and Italy are contributing
Canadair water tank aircraft; Serbia, Germany, the
Netherlands and Slovenia are sending other aircraft, and
Romania and Israel are sending other assistance, Greece
said. Some of the aircraft are already at work in Greece
and the rest of the assistance is due to arrive soon.
Austria said Sunday it would send two army helicopters, a
transport plane and 20 firefighters.
Sixty French firefighters specializing in helicopter
missions flew to Elefsis air base near Athens early Sunday.
France had already sent four Canadair planes on Saturday.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon spoke by telephone
with his Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis, assuring him
on Sunday that France was prepared to send more aid if it
was needed, the French premier's office said.
Italy sent a Canadair fire-fighting plane to assist the
Greeks, Premier Romano Prodi said Saturday, noting that
Italy, too, had been fighting fires in the south.
Germany said it was sending three CH-53 helicopters on
Monday to support the firefighting effort.
Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said the country
would send two Cougar firefighting helicopters.
Switzerland said it was sending four Superpuma helicopters
to help with carrying water to douse the fires. The first,
based in Kosovo with the Swiss army, is expected to arrive
in Greece on Monday. Three more will leave Switzerland on
Monday and are expected to arrive on Tuesday.
Cyprus has already sent 30 firefighters and 29 civil
defense personnel along with six fire-fighting vehicles.
About 25 more firefighters who specialize in forest fires
were to leave for Greece later Sunday with five vehicles.
The government said it was ready to provide camp beds,
blankets, medicines and medical personnel, if they were
requested.
Greece had asked the European Union on Friday to request
water-bombing aircraft from member nations.
The EU said the response from its members has been the
biggest offer of assistance to a member state since the EU
set up a civil protection mechanism in 2001.


Clic here to read the story from its source.