Hungary helps Montenegro – UPDATED: defence minister

Hungary is offering help to Montenegro to fight wildfires, with the air forces sending a firefighter helicopter with a crew of seven to the country, the foreign minister said on Tuesday.

Péter Szijjártó said on Facebook after a phone call with the deputy prime minister of Montenegro that Filip Ivanovic had requested international help, including from Hungary, because a long-lasting drought and high temperatures had resulted in a catastrophic situation in his country.

Some forty square kilometres of land has been devastated by wildfires in the country and the affected areas included the vicinity of the capital and also seaside regions popular with tourists, he said.

“After our phone call today, the Hungarian Air Force is sending a helicopter able to carry a two cubic metre helibucket, with a crew of seven people, to contribute to fighting the wildfires,” he said.