Azerbaijani amphibious aircraft continues efforts to combat fires in Türkiye VIDEO

The amphibious aircraft from the Aviation Unit of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Emergency Situations remains actively engaged in firefighting operations to tackle the forest fires in Türkiye.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the ongoing involvement of the aircraft, which was recently deployed to assist in extinguishing fires in the Izmir-Focha region, Caliber.Az reports.

Türkiye has been battling wildfires since the summer, with 74 incidents recorded this year, devastating approximately 12,910 hectares (31,900 acres) of land, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS).

On August 17, President Ilham Aliyev ordered the deployment of a BE-200CS amphibious aircraft to Türkiye to aid in firefighting efforts. On the same day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to Aliyev, expressing his appreciation for Azerbaijan's readiness to provide necessary support in combating the wildfires. He highlighted the importance of the BE-200CS aircraft in extinguishing the fires and conveyed his gratitude for Azerbaijan’s timely assistance, viewing it as a testament to the strong brotherhood and strategic alliance between the two nations.

Additionally, Azerbaijan has dispatched teams of firefighters along with firefighting equipment to support Türkiye in managing these extensive forest fires. The first contingent included 100 firefighters who arrived in Mugla province, followed by another team sent on the night of July 31.

On August 2, high-ranking officials from Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, led by Deputy Minister Etibar Mirzayev, travelled to Türkiye to discuss firefighting strategies with Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Mehmet Ersoy at the Crisis Management Center.

Most of the forest fires in Türkiye occur between June and October.

By Tamilla Hasanova