The forest fire that broke out on Tuesday, July 18, on the island of Rhodes was presenting a better picture, Fire Brigade spokesperson Lt. Colonel Yiannis Artopios stated in an emergency briefing on Thursday, adding that the Fire Department had managed to put out several rekindled blazes on the island.

"Strong ground forces are operating in Rhodes and although yesterday the aerial means had difficulty in approaching the fires due to the low visibility caused by the intense smoke, they managed to contain several rekindlings," Artopios said, and added that five aircraft and five helicopters have been deployed since first light.

Regarding the fire in West Attica that started on Monday, July 17, from Dervenochoria, he said that strong ground forces were continuing to operate, assisted by seven airplanes and nine helicopters since the early morning, one of which was for aerial coordination.

"All the forces of Civil Protection, in cooperation with the regions and municipalities of the country, are making significant efforts to contain the fires," he said, adding that the fire that broke out on Wednesday in Lefchoma, Laconia, has subsided, but strong firefighting forces continue to operate there.

The aircraft operating in the country include four planes provided to Greece via the European Civil Protection Mechanism from Italy and France, he said.

"Additional forces made available to Greece by the European Civil Protection Mechanism have arrived from Romania, with 50 firefighters and 10 vehicles. More forces are expected to arrive from Slovakia, which will provide 31 firefighters with 15 vehicles, and from Poland, which will provide 149 firefighters with 49 vehicles. Also, two more aircraft are expected to arrive today from Israel," he underlined.

Finally, he stressed that there is a very high risk of fire in Attica, Boeotia, Evia, Corinth and Argolis on Thursday. "The conditions remain difficult. We must not be careless. It's essential that all pay attention," Artopios concluded.