Brussels mobilizes two seaplanes to fight fires in Portugal

BRUSSELS, Aug. 23 (EUROPE PRESS) –

The European Commission announced this Tuesday the mobilization of two seaplanes to assist Portugal in the fight against the fires that affect the country, which in total have devastated almost 100,000 hectares this summer.

Following the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, two seaplanes prepositioned in Greece have joined the extinction efforts in the districts most affected by the fire in northern Portugal.

“As fires continue to threaten towns and resources across the continent, we must be alert and ready to deploy aid quickly as new fires may spread,” said Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic, who praised Greece’s actions. to launch European solidarity in the face of the situation in Portugal.

Lenarcic recalled that the EU’s emergency coordination center remains in close contact with the Portuguese authorities to cooperate in extinguishing the fire, while the Copernicus satellite system has been activated to monitor fire activity.

In any case, the situation is improving on the ground and the Portuguese authorities have indicated that they will not extend the state of alert decreed to combat forest fires, which will expire at midnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, due to the improvement in the situation and the reduction of the risk.