07/09/2023 (Agence Europe) – Faced with the devastating and deadly floods resulting from torrential rain in Greece and Bulgaria, the two countries have requested assistance from the European Corpernicus programme and obtained detailed satellite maps of the affected areas, the European Commission reported on Thursday, 7 September. “We are monitoring the situation closely. The Greek authorities activated the Copernicus system two days ago and a similar request was made by the Bulgarian authorities. The maps were supplied for Thessaly in Greece and for the Bourgas region in Bulgaria”, explained Commission spokesman Balazs Ujvari. He added that humanitarian aid could be provided, if necessary, through the Union's civil protection mechanism, “as quickly as possible”, if such a request for assistance was made. (AN)