EU Deploys Four Planes to Help Battle Southern France Wildfire

The European Union said it is deploying four water-bombing aircraft to support firefighters battling a major wildfire in southern France. The planes, drawn from the EU's rescEU emergency response fleet, are being sent from Sweden and Cyprus and are expected to begin operations near the city of Perpignan on Tuesday.

Eva Hrncirova, Spokesperson, European Commission said "And to help France, we have mobilized four planes from our rescue fleet. They are right now moving from Sweden and Cyprus and they will be, still today in France, operating tomorrow in the area close to Perpignan."

The deployment is part of the bloc's coordinated response to help French authorities contain the blaze.