France on Monday issued its appeal through a European Commission crisis centre which has been operational since January 2002 and is manned round the clock in case of natural or civil emergencies.

The head of the Commission's civil protection unit, Pia Bucella, told AFP Thursday that Germany had become the latest EU nation to come forward by sending three Puma helicopters.

Belgium, Greece, Italy and Spain have also responded through the crisis centre, she said, while water-dropping planes are coming from non-EU countries Norway, Russia and Canada.

Five people have been killed and thousands evacuated from homes and campsites as the fires swept through parts of southern France and the Mediterranean island of Corsica following a severe drought.

TERRA.WIRE