PM Tsipras visits emergency services operations centre for briefing on fires

He called for calmness and effort by all sides to coordinate the fire-fighting effort.

Tsipras said that all forces are on standby to deal with the four fires currently underway and asked the head of the Greek armed forces to assist in efforts to put out the fire in the Kareas area on the outskirts of Athens, supplying fire-fighting aircraft.

Two Canadair water-bombing planes have have been sent from Thessaloniki and two fire-fighting helicopters from Elefsina.

Tsipras also announced that an official request for assistance from European mechanisms has been submitted.

Regarding the two Canadair pilots that had to make a forced landing, Tsipras said that he was briefed on their condition and that they were in good health. He appealed to all the mass media to inform the public calmly and said he had instructed the relevant civil protection officer to give detailed briefings on all fires, the prevailing situation and fire-fighting means every two days.