Türkiye evacuates over 4,000 people from areas affected by wildfires

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has said that 4,159 people have been evacuated from areas affected by forest fires.

The minister stated that the government has allocated financial resources to assist the population in disaster zones, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azerbaijani media.

Yerlikaya noted that those involved in the fires are being identified and handed over to the judiciary, with some individuals arrested on charges of arson.

Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli reported that as of the morning of August 18, there are 8 active fire fronts in the country. “In the last two days alone, aircraft have dropped 7,662 tonnes of water on the fire zones,” said the minister.

Regarding the amphibious aircraft sent by Azerbaijan to aid Türkiye, Yumakli expressed gratitude to the brotherly country for its support.

Dozens of forest fires have been recorded in the territory of Türkiye in recent days. A large number of equipment, dozens of helicopters and airplanes were involved in the firefighting operations.