Romanian firefighters lauded by EU chief, viral photo proven false

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen thanked Romanian firefighters for their participation in the French forest‑fire fighting mission, saying their courage exemplifies European solidarity. She praised the unit that extended its deployment at France’s request, noting that “when we are united, we are stronger.”

The Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations (IGSU) later clarified that a widely shared image showing exhausted firefighters lying on asphalt was not related to the French mission. IGSU stated the photograph was fabricated and urged the public to rely only on official communications for accurate information.

The two statements highlight both the recognition of Romania’s contribution to EU disaster response and the effort to counter misinformation about the rescue teams.