Brussels mobilizes four aircraft from Greece and Italy to help combat the fires that hit Madrid and Ávila

The European Commission (EC) announced on Friday that it has mobilised four Canadair aircraft to help contain the firesin Spain, two from Greece and two from Italy. The measure comes after the Spanish Government requested assistance from the European Union to strengthen resources to deal with forest fires in various parts of the country.

In this context, the Presidentofthe Community of Madrid, Isabel Ayuso , has assured us that this is "the most serious fire in the history of the Community of Madrid" and has stressed that the top priority is "saving lives", so that the fire has already burned some 6,000 hectares and the flames remain "powerless to extinguish".

Thus, at therequest of the Military Emergency Unit (EMU), the European Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated to request at least four fixed-wing firefighting aircraft.

"We have mobilized four aircraft and the images of the Copernicus satellite programme are also supporting the response to the emergency. These aircraft were stationed in Greece and Italyand have now been sent to Spain to assist, "said European Commission Civil Protection spokesman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen at the organisation's daily press conference.