The Cypriot firefighting mission dispatched to Greece on October 2 had successfully returned to the island, it emerged on Wednesday.

For five days, the Cypriot team operated in various parts of Corinthia, helping to contain several flare-ups. The mission’s aerial operations contributed to protecting forested areas, property, and lives.

The mission consisted of two Air Tractor planes from Cyprus’s forestry department, with a crew of five and an additional five ground support personnel. The two planes have been part of the ‘rescEU’ mechanism since June 2024.

Additionally, two Jordanian Air Tractor planes, with a crew of four and three ground support personnel, which had been stationed in Cyprus, also operated in Corinthia for three days before returning to the island.

The mission was part of the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism, sent to assist Greek authorities in battling wildfires in the Xylokastro area of the Peloponnese.

Before the team’s departure from Greece, they were congratulated by Greek officials and by the European Commission’s Civil Protection Officer Mihail Gutas, who was in Greece as part of the activation of ‘rescUE’, an initiative designed to enhance the collective ability of EU member states to respond to natural and man-made disasters.

The forestry department expressed its gratitude and commended the team members for their immediate response and the professionalism and dedication they displayed throughout the mission.

Cyprus has often provided assistance in combating wildfires to neighbouring countries, either through bilateral agreements or within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

In a statement, the department also reiterated its readiness to assist neighbouring countries whenever necessary and expressed its hope that all wildfires in the region would soon be brought under control.