Italy offers firefighting planes to battle Greece wildfires

Source: Xinhua| 2018-07-25 00:21:21|Editor: Mu Xuequan
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ROME, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Italy has offered two firefighting planes to battle deadly wildfires in Greece, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Tuesday.

The devastating blazes have been raging since Monday in the Attica region near Athens, reportedly claiming scores of lives.

"Deeply shaken by the deaths of so many people due to wildfires in Greece," Conte tweeted. "Italy stands with the Greek people and has taken action by making two Canadair (planes) available."

Italy's foreign ministry has activated an emergency number and said on Twitter that it is working with its embassy in Athens" for verifications with local authorities and assistance to fellow Italians."

Speaking to RAI News24 public broadcaster over the phone, Italian Ambassador to Greece Efisio Luigi Marras said it is too soon to tell whether any Italians have been hurt but that "we can't rule anything out."

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