The Czech Republic is sending 2 helicopters to help Bulgaria combat the wildfires

By: bnr.bg

Jul 16 2024
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The Czech Republic is sending

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev has established a task force to combat the wildfires in the country. Today, he visited the Stara Zagora region, which is one of the most affected areas, reported the Council of Ministers press service. Five teams from the Plovdiv fire department are extinguishing a fire that broke out near the village of Otets Paisievo, Kaloyanovo municipality. The fire entered a villa zone and 10 villas were burned. Currently, the fire is spreading north towards the village of Prolom and the town of Banya.

A large fire also broke out in the Karlovo region. Grain crops, rose plantations and pastures are burning. In some areas, gusty winds and high temperatures are making it difficult to control the flames. In some places the smoke necessitated the closure of roads. Meanwhile, the Prosecutor's Office-Plovdiv has launched an investigation into the causes of the devastating fires in the municipalities of Hisarya, Karlovo and Kaloyanovo which have burned more than 20,000 decares of forest, agricultural and other lands.

The Mi-17 helicopter of the Bulgarian Air Force has joined the firefighting efforts in the area of Strelcha, Pazardzhik region, said the Ministry of Defense. Bulgaria has already activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The country has received confirmation from the Czech Republic, which will send two helicopters. Confirmation of assistance is also expected from Romania, said Minister of Interior Kalin Stoyanov, who visited the areas affected by the wildfires.