EU to send aid to the forest to Spain as the number of deaths increases

The European Union sends two planes to help Spain attack the forest fires that rage across the country, which have so far killed three people.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaka told local media that he had asked two EU water bombers to be deployed in the least affected regions.

The aid comes when a third person was killed by fighting a forest fire in the northwest region of León, and as a Spanish activated an EU disaster aid mechanism for fires for the first time.

The State of Spain Meteorological Agency, AEMET, warned that a heat wave will continue until Monday, temperatures should exceed 44C in certain regions, which raises fears that forest fires are spreading more.

In an interview with the local media store Cadena Ser on Wednesday, Spanish interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said he had asked to help two Canadian water bomber planes.

“For the moment, we do not need the two planes of Canadair urgently, but given the weather forecasts, we want to have these planes on our national territory as soon as they can be used, if they are necessary,” he said.

“For the moment, the government is not explaining to ask for more firefighters,” he added.

Thousands of people were evacuated from their houses in Spain, with 700 other people evacuated from the western city of Caceres on Wednesday, according to the country’s civil guard.

Also Wednesday, a civilian and a volunteer firefighter were killed in the city of León – increasing the number of deaths in current three -forest fires.

“We are again struck by the death of a second volunteer who lost their lives to León. All our love and support go to their family and friends during this unbearable period,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on social networks on Thursday.

“All government resources strive to deal with the difficult situation that our country is confronted. The threat remains extreme,” he added.

Spain is one of several European countries which experience hot temperatures and fighting forest fires that have requested EU.

With Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania have also activated the EU civil protection mechanism due to fires. Any country struck by a disaster, in Europe and beyond, can request emergency assistance through the mechanism.

On Thursday, European countries sent a craftsmanship to those who asked for help, in addition to the prepositioned firefighters already helping in Greece.

In Greece, forest fires have been burned for a third consecutive day, with the most dangerous fronts on the island of Chios and in the Peloponnese Achaia region.

So far, 95 people – including firefighters – have been injured. The satellite data of the EU Copernicus emergency management service show that more than 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) have burned across the country since Tuesday morning.

The authorities issued a red alert for Thursday, warning against a very high risk in Attica, in the east of the center of Greece, Evia, the northeast of the Peloponnese and Thrace.

In Chios, the fire front extended over tens of kilometers, and with available limited resources, many residents had to be evacuated by sea using coast guard and private ships.

The fires also raged in Albania and Turkey, with several injured firefighters while attacking the flames.

EU data shows that around 439,000 hectares of land have burned since the start of the year due to forest fires, against 187,643 hectares (464,000 acres) last year.

In total, 1,628 fires have been detected since the start of the year.

Additional report by Nikos Papanikolaou in Greece