Russian Emergency Situations Ministry ready to help Greece put out wildfires
MOSCOW. July 22 (Interfax) - The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry has offered to help the Greek Interior Ministry in putting out large wildfires raging in Athens suburbs and two regions amid dry weather, a source in the emergency situations services told Interfax on Wednesday.
"The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry has sent a message to the Greek Interior Ministry offering assistance in the extinguishing of wildfires. Two planes (an Ilyushin Il-76 with VAP-2 airborne water tank and a Beriyev Be-200ChS) from the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, specialists and rescuers equipped to fight wildfires and to organize ground support to the aircraft are on standby," the source said.
Large wildfires broke out in the Attica and Laconia areas, and Athens suburbs on July 18 as a result of dry weather and high winds, he said. "Rescue units and servicemen of the Defense Ministry of the Greek Republic were assigned to extinguish the flames. A number of populated areas were evacuated," the source said.
