TIRANA, July 23 – Hundreds of fires broke out throughout the country last week becoming a serious danger not only to wildlife but also to businesses and the population.
This has prompted the government to create an emergency task force, headed by deputy Prime Minister Gazmend Oketa, to coordinate the work.
Hundreds of firefighters, police and army forces have been invovled in many areas in the country to battle the fires, especially on Sunday.
Four army helicopters are being used to fight the fires, though the army is not trained in such operations.
Interior Minsiter Bujar Nishani has asked his Greek counterpart to provide the country a helicopter to extinguish a serious fire in the Korca district, close to the Greek border.
Alfred Olli of the emergency department appealed to the population to help the authorities in this fight.
Fires have caused serious material damage, especially on Sunday, he said, though he gave no details.
Heat, which has been up to 40 degrees, will continue through the end of the month, meteorologists say.
