EU firefighters to join effort as Greece battles wildfires near Athens
Al JazeeraHundreds of European firefighters are due to arrive in Greece as the country battles a massive wildfire near Athens. 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. Greece’s National Observatory said temperatures of up to 38 degrees Celsius are expected in Athens on Tuesday, with winds of up to 39 kilometres per hour. Some 700 firefighters, backed by 200 fire engines and nine aircraft, were battling the fire, which broke out Sunday afternoon in the town of Varnavas, some 35 kilometres northeast of Athens, the fire department said. Following a call for international help by the Greek government, additional firefighters, helicopters, fire engines and water tankers were expected to join the effort from France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia and Turkey, authorities said.