Newly-received leased helicopters by the Cyprus government are fully operational since last Monday, the Forestry Department announced on Wednesday, amidst daily incidents of forest and rural fires on the island that is baking in temperatures over 40 degrees the past weeks.
The leased helicopters are two Black Hawks which arrived last week from Slovakia. They will be stationed at Paphos International Airport. One helicopter was used in putting out the fire that broke out on Monday in Limassol district between the villages of Pachna and Prasteio.
The helicopters can carry 3400l of water.
Source: Cyprus News Agency