Eight days have passed since the Cypriot mission is in Greece and from the first day of their arrival, on August 4, they were thrown into the battle of extinguishing the big fires with vigor and determination, next to members of the Greek Fire Brigade.
Speaking about what the Cypriot mission experienced in operations in Northern Evia, where it was called to assist on Tuesday, the member of the Civil Defense Search and Rescue Team, George Evangelou, who is part of the mission, said that the heat combined with the Incredibly high humidity and floating ash made the atmosphere heavy and unbearable.
They were breathing, he continues, with difficulty, while hot sweat covered their whole body.
He notes that due to the dense vegetation of the area, the locals opened ditches with tree cutters so that the mission could prepare lines that could barely be crossed.
He added that it was so hot and they never felt so uncomfortable again.
"A citizen is coming down from the tunnel holding his tree-cutting. It is ready to collapse. He kneels. We offer him cold water, support him and wet his head. He looks at us and whispers: "Thank you", he describes a shocking scene.
The Cypriot delegation from Tuesday morning until Wednesday morning operated at the site of the chapel of Panagia Dinious in the Community of Alkyoni. Initially attempted for a while in the Communities of Galatsona and Avgaria.
According to a member of the Civil Defense Search and Rescue Team, they started firefighting and securing the area.
Firefighters and rescuers together once again on the same front, he notes.
In the evening, he continues his testimony, they remained in the area and monitored their area of responsibility, while at 01.30 on Wednesday a civilian vehicle approached them and left them pizzas and soft drinks, saying simply thank you.
"And we in turn thank all the citizens who support us with their actions. "I wish we could do more", underlines Mr. Evangelou.
Another member of the Search and Rescue Team, sends his own message on the return of the Cypriot mission to Athens that the whole team is strong and well, although exhausted from fatigue.
In the meantime, the mission of the Forest Department attempted today in Mani.
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