Slovakia has dispatched a contingent of 20 firefighters to France to assist in battling extensive wildfires ravaging the Gironde department near Bordeaux.
The team departed on Thursday, carrying 19 units of specialized firefighting equipment, including dedicated vehicles designed for wildland operations.
The deployment is coordinated through the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism, ensuring integration with existing international relief efforts already on the ground.
The Slovak contingent is scheduled to remain in France from July 30 through August 18, providing critical manpower and technical support during a peak period of fire activity.
This mission follows an earlier deployment by Slovakia, which included a Black Hawk helicopter that arrived in France on Friday evening to join aerial suppression efforts.
The addition of ground-based resources underscores the escalating severity of the crisis and the need for sustained international assistance.