Greece sends two Canadair fire fighting aircraft to help Cyprus fight a forest fire

Greece on Monday dispatched two Canadair fire-fighting aircraft after a call for assistance from fellow European Union member Cyprus to help fight a blaze that has scorched miles of mountainous terrain.

Jordan is already helping with three aircraft of its own, including two Super Puma helicopters and a Russian-made Mi26 helicopter to douse the fire in the mountains about 11 miles (17 kilometers) north of the coastal town of Limassol. The multinational effort is battling a blaze that has scorched as much as 4 square miles (10 square kilometers) of land.

Environment Ministry Secretary Andreas Gregoriou, who is coordinating firefighting efforts, told state-run Cyprus News Agency that talks are ongoing with Israel for additional air support if needed.

Greece's Civil Protection Ministry said 20 tons of fire retardant is also on its way to Cyprus while the Canadairs...