On Saturday, Lebanon Army announced that it has dispatched two military helicopters to Greece to assist the authorities in extinguishing the wildfires that have been raging for several days.
A statement released by the Lebanese Army Command read, “On July 29, 2023, two ‘Boma’-type helicopters from the Lebanese Air Force took off from Hamat Airport in northern Lebanon.”
The statement further explained, “On board the helicopters were a team of 13 personnel, including officers, ranks, and technicians, who are heading to a military airport in Rhodes, Greece, to carry out a support mission in firefighting efforts.”
For the past six days, about 19,000 residents and tourists on the Greek island of Rhodes have sought refuge in schools and enclosed stadiums after being evacuated from villages and coastal resorts due to the relentless wildfires that continue to ravage the island.
A local newspaper reported that the strong winds have caused the fire to spread once again along the southeastern part of the island, leading to the evacuation of 19,000 people.
In response to the crisis, temporary accommodations have been secured for thousands of evacuees in hotels, conference centers, sports halls, schools, and other public spaces.
