The Greek government announced emergency measures Tuesday to cope with wildfires that have burned thousands of acres this summer.

These include 24-hour patrols in vulnerable areas, the Athens News Agency reported. The government also plans to hire 1,300 more firefighters and to request more firefighting planes and helicopters from other European countries.

The Greek Cabinet also sent condolences to the families of two pilots whose firefighting plane crashed Monday on the island of Evia.

Hundreds of fires have broken out in recent weeks in mainland Greece, the Peloponnesus and the islands. On Tuesday, residents of one village in Achaia in the Peloponnesus fled when shifting winds sent flames toward their homes.

Many of the fires are believed to have been caused by arson, including some set by developers hoping to clear land for building by burning protected forests.

Greece, like the rest of southwestern Europe, has been enduring a lengthy heat wave.

UPI

Güncelleme Tarihi: 25 Temmuz 2007, 10:34