The European Union’s top official on Thursday voiced her sorrow at the deaths of three Greek firefighters during wildfires on the island of Crete and the southern mainland.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also promised in a Greek-language post on X that the 27-nation bloc would offer support to Greece.
“My most sincere condolences to Greece and the Greek people for the loss of the three firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty,” she wrote.”Their courage will be recorded in history. Europe stands by Greece’s side.”
“The EU is preparing further support, just as Greece helped France and Spain in their hour of greatest need,” she added, referring to Greek firefighting assistance to the two southern European countries during their own recent wildfire emergencies.
The three men died Wednesday while battling fires in the Rethymno region of Crete and near Gytheio in the southern Peloponnese.
