(ATHENS, Greece) — The Spanish government says it has sent two amphibious planes to help fight the twin forest fires in seaside areas of Greece that have killed nearly 50 people and injured more than 100.
Greece sought international help through the European Union as fires on either side of Athens left lines of cars torched, charred farms and forests, and sent hundreds of people racing to beaches to be evacuated by navy vessels, yachts and fishing boats.
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture says that each of the two Canadair-type planes dispatched early Tuesday can hoard 5.5 tons of water and they are piloted by members of the country’s air force.
The ministry says in a statement that the decision to dispatch the planes was made only after an assessment of Spain’s own need for them.
The country is also prone to destructive wildfires every year, when dry and hot summers can be met with strong winds that quickly spread the flames.