Burning Athens: a united Europe fighting fires
The EU has activated the Civil Protection Mechanism, mobilizing resources from several member countries
An unprecedented emergency is straining Greece. The fires that have been ravaging the Athens region for days have already burned thousands of hectares of land, forcing thousands to evacuate. In response, the European Union has activated the Civil Protection Mechanism, mobilizing resources from several member countries.
The European response
European action was rapid and coordinated. At the request of Greece, the European Union has mobilized resources from several member countries: fire fighters from Italy and France, helicopters from Serbia and France, and hundreds of firefighters from France, the Czech Republic, Romania, Malta and Moldova were sent to Greece to support local teams in fighting the flames. Brussels “is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to provide further assistance if needed”, says the European Commission.
The forces currently deployed
According to the Greek authorities, there are currently over 700 firefighters fighting in the area, supported by 27 special teams against forest fires, with 190 vehicles, 17 water-launch aircraft and 16 helicopters.
An unprecedented emergency
June and July were the hottest months on record in Greece, preceded by the warmest winter ever. The fires, fuelled by strong winds that changed direction rapidly, started in the outskirts of Athens and reached the northern suburbs of the capital, especially Vrilissia, burning acres of land, houses and businesses on the outskirts of the city.
Albania is also a part of the
Greece is not the only country facing this emergency. Other Mediterranean countries, such as Albania, have also been affected by violent fires. This situation highlights the need for ever closer international cooperation to tackle a phenomenon which is taking on increasingly worrying proportions.
The role of the European Union
The European Union is playing a key role in fighting forest fires. In addition to mobilising resources for emergency response, the EU is investing in research and development of new fire prevention and fighting technologies such as satellite monitoring systems and drones.
The challenges of the future
The fires that are ravaging Greece are a clear warning signal. Climate change is making fires more frequent and intense, and the consequences are becoming increasingly severe. To address this emergency, a joint effort is needed at the global level involving governments, international institutions, businesses and citizens.