Israel will send 25 firefighters with equipment to Greece to help battle fires raging in several areas in the country, the foreign ministry said Sunday.
The firefighters will leave on the first available flight to Greece, a spokesman for the ministry said. He noted that the aid was being sent at the request of the Greek government.
The death toll reached at least 56 Sunday after a fire that broke out on the Greek island of Evia north of Athens killed five people and injured two more.
Massive wildfires have burned for three days, and the vast majority of deaths are from the Zaharo area of the Peloponnese in southern Greece.
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has declared the fires a "national catastrophe" and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast at official buildings.
Greece is also expecting four fire-fighting planes from Serbia and two from Spain, while two helicopters each are expected to arrive from Germany and the Netherlands.
Romania, Norway and Slovenia are each sending one helicopter, while Switzerland and Iceland have also offered assistance.
Also Sunday, fires reached the outskirts of ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, but were stopped short of the historic site, the fire brigade said.
"The fire reached the hill overlooking ancient Olympia but was stopped just before entering the archaeological site," said a fire brigade spokesman, who declined to be named.
"Six planes, two helicopters, 15 fire engines and 45 firemen participated in the effort."
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The firefighters will leave on the first available flight to Greece, a spokesman for the ministry said. He noted that the aid was being sent at the request of the Greek government.
The death toll reached at least 56 Sunday after a fire that broke out on the Greek island of Evia north of Athens killed five people and injured two more.
Massive wildfires have burned for three days, and the vast majority of deaths are from the Zaharo area of the Peloponnese in southern Greece.
Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis has declared the fires a "national catastrophe" and ordered flags to be flown at half-mast at official buildings.
Greece is also expecting four fire-fighting planes from Serbia and two from Spain, while two helicopters each are expected to arrive from Germany and the Netherlands.
Romania, Norway and Slovenia are each sending one helicopter, while Switzerland and Iceland have also offered assistance.
Also Sunday, fires reached the outskirts of ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, but were stopped short of the historic site, the fire brigade said.
"The fire reached the hill overlooking ancient Olympia but was stopped just before entering the archaeological site," said a fire brigade spokesman, who declined to be named.
"Six planes, two helicopters, 15 fire engines and 45 firemen participated in the effort."
Discuss Add this link to... Bury
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