Minister: Türkiye battles 247 wildfires in four days

Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli has said that over the past four days, 247 forest fires of various levels have been recorded on the territory of Türkiye.

“From Thursday morning, August 15, to Sunday evening, August 18, 247 forest fires were recorded in the country. In 241 cases, firefighters managed to localise the fire,” the minister said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azerbaijani media.

According to him, there are currently no forest fires in Turkey that could cause special concern for the authorities.

Yumakli noted that on Sunday they managed to localise the fires in the Yamanlar and Urla districts of Izmir province, as well as Goynuk in Bolu province. “Aviation, including 13 helicopters of the Turkish Armed Forces, is involved in extinguishing the fires,” Yumakli said.

The minister reiterated his gratitude to Azerbaijan for sending amphibious aircraft to extinguish fires in Türkiye.

He noted that 25,000 specialists, as well as a large number of volunteers are involved in fighting forest fires in the country as a whole. 105 helicopters, aeroplanes and 14 UAVs are being used.

On August 17, in line with the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the amphibious aircraft of “BE-200ChS” type of aviation detachment of the Ministry of Emergency Situations was sent to Türkiye to help the brotherly country in fighting severe forest fires.