EU sends helicopters, firefighters to Serbia to combat wildfire

The European Union has dispatched four helicopters and ground firefighting teams to Serbia to fight wildfires that have scorched more than 3,500 hectares of the Deliblato Sands Nature Reserve, Report informs, citing the European Commission.

Serbia activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism three days ago. In response, helicopters were mobilized from the rescEU strategic reserve based in the Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia, along with firefighting teams from Germany and Romania, the commission noted.

The fires have been burning for over two weeks, exacerbated by strong winds, difficult terrain, and high temperatures.

Satellite mapping of the affected areas under the Copernicus service was activated by the EU earlier on August 8.