Smoke and flames covers all Albania. Greece sent two aircrafts, but the situation remains critical.

The Albania, woke up with huge smoke clouds coming from forest and green area, or what is call “the country’s lungs”. Already Smoke covers all country. The situation remains critical. During the last 24 hours there have been 25 fires in Tirana, Vlora, Dibra, Elbasani, Berat regions. Around 15 new wildfires were registered only during the last 24 hours, the Civil Emergencies Directory reported. Around 125 firefighters, 160 Military and some 60 volunteers and rangers have been engaged to help and control forest fires. The increased temperatures of these days are causing numerous fires in forest areas. In response to request of the Albanian Minister for Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati addressed to EU members for help in coping wildfires in Albania, on Saturday in morning Greece sent two aircrafts in Albania, to aid the albanian fire service. The two aircrafts have already joined the operation for extinguishing the fires in Llogara, in the southern areas of the country. Sources from the Albanian Ministry for Foreign Affairs said: “We have been in contact with the Centre for Management of Crisis in Greece and they confirmed that 2 CANADAIR have gone in action in answer to request of the Albanian side for extinguishing the fires in Dukat of Vlora in the southern areas of Albania”. As well the press office of the EU Delegation in Tirana reported that Albania has activated in the whole of its territory the EU Programme Copernicus, supporting the operations on the ground related with forest fires. Also in one reaction of the EU on saturday on the facebook was declared: “This is a step forward for the Civil Emergency Department service in the country and its integration with Mechanisms of the European Emergency System”. The army troops remain in alert to help the firefighters. Wildfires are being kept under constant monitoring by Civil Emergency specialists. Citizens can report any cases of wildfires in country to emergency numbers129, 128 and 112.