Kikilias: The US help is important; Tsunis: We will continue to help Greece

Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Vassilis Kikilias had a meeting with US Ambassador George Tsunis on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Evangelos Tournas.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, “during the constructive meeting and the targeted discussion that took place, the significant assistance provided by the United States of America to the fire-fighting operations in Greece was confirmed.”
The US is already contributing to the extinguishing operation with 4 black-hawk helicopters with a total of 3 firefighting buckets, while 3 Chinooks are also expected and they pledged to further assist in case of need.
“The US is on Greece’s side. We sent Chinooks and Blackhawks to help the Greek Army, the Greek Coast Guard, the Civil Protection Ministry, the Forest Service and the Fire Department in extinguishing these fires. We just dispatched three Chinook, much larger. Another four are expected,” Tsunis said and added that the ones that arrived today and are in the southern Aegean region are much larger and more capable, with larger water tanks than the Blackhawks.
“The Chinooks will operate tomorrow but we have other means on ships in the southern Aegean in case anything happens. This will allow the Fire Brigade to use Greek extinguishing means in other areas because we will undertake part of their work,” noted Tsunis.

source:amna.gr