TIRANA, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- Massive wildfires which have raged in Albania for weeks reached a critical point on Thursday, forcing Albanian authorities to seek support from Greece and Italy.
Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati asked Greece and Italy to send airplanes as it is the only way to help Albanian firefighters battle fires and put flames under control, the Albanian ministry informed in a press release Thursday.
Two airplanes from Greece and others from Italy are to be sent.
In the meantime, Albanian emergency authorities informed that 25 fires had broken out in the last 24 hours in different districts of Albania.
Around 200 military personnel, 150 firefighters, and many experts from other state agencies are battling fires, but due to the complex terrain in several spots, they have sought intervention from the air.
Albania's interior minister made a strong statement earlier in the day, threatening severe punishment to anyone deliberately setting fires.
According to police, most of the fires were deliberately set, while the hot weather has furthered their spread.
