Canadair

Search and rescue crews located on Thursday the body of a pilot who went missing when his small trainer aircraft crashed on January 31 on the northeastern slopes of Mount Mitsikeli, about 38 kilometers from Ioannina.

The 32-year-old's body was found in a ravine at the top of the Mitsikeli mountain range in Ioannina, northwestern Greece.

Outgoing European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides (r) and Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis talk before a ceremony at the Elefsina Air Force Base on Thursday to welcome Greece's contribution of two Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft to RescEU, a European Union program aimed at enlisting the help of member-states to respond to na

Greece will participate in a new European Union program aimed at enlisting the help of member-states to respond to wildfires and other natural disasters, the country's General Secretariat for Civil Protection said on Tuesday.
Last month, the European Commission inaugurated its first fleet of firefighting aircraft under a new program dubbed rescEU without the participation of Greece.

Dozens of firefighters were late Monday trying to contain a large fire that broke out in a rural area of the western Peloponnese in southern Greece.
Local authorities said more than 40 firemen and 15 fire engines were dispatched to the area of Tsameika, where the flames had spread through farmland and forestland.

Two firemen were injured while battling a large blaze that started earlier on Wednesday in a forested area of Sidirokastro, in eastern Mani, in the Peloponnese, state-run news agency ANA-MPA reported.

Twenty eight firefighters with 14 vehicles and two crews on foot were on the scene, helped by two Canadair and two Pezetel aircraft, but strong winds were hampering their efforts.

Conservative New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday visited the Canadair base in Elefsina, western Attica, and thanked the firefighters he met there for their efforts to douse last week's catastrophic blazes.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos visited the fire-stricken east coast of Attica on Wednesday to inspect the damage caused by last week's deadly blaze and efforts to help those affected.

At least 91 people were killed and scores were injured in Mati, a holiday spot 17 miles east of Athens, when flames fanned by gale-force winds burned down the town.

Greece's public order minister has said Italy is dispatching two Canadair firefighting planes and Romania is sending a third aircraft to help combat wildfires near the Greek capital that have claimed the lives of at least 74 people.

Croatia has offered two Canadair aircraft to help Greece battle wildfires that have killed dozens of people near Athens.

Defense Minister Damir Krsticevic said Tuesday Croatia is preparing the planes so they are ready to go to Greece if needed there.

At least 60 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in the wildfires.

Italy is offering two Canadair aircraft to help Greece battle wildfires that have killed dozens of people near Athens.

Premier Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday tweeted Italy's support for Greece and condolences for those who have died. He announced Italy was making the two water-dropping aircraft available.