Russia sends two amphibious planes to Türkiye to help fight forest fires

The decision came following a request from Türkiye and was based on the instructions of the Russian Federation's president.

The experienced air crews of the Russian emergencies ministry have previously been involved in firefighting operations abroad and are well-trained to handle challenging situations. Their past missions include assisting in extinguishing forest fires in Greece, Serbia, Montenegro, and other countries.

Equipped with water tanks capable of carrying up to 12 tons of water and advanced thermal equipment for detecting wildfire hotspots, the Russian amphibious planes are well-prepared for their firefighting tasks.

The forest fires in Turkey have been exacerbated by the unusually hot and dry weather this summer, with temperatures soaring as high as 45-47 degrees Celsius. In response to the heightened wildfire risk, authorities have taken measures such as closing certain forested areas to visitors and prohibiting recreational activities like picnicking in other regions.

As per Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's recent statement, the fires have affected five zones in the provinces of Mugla, Mersin, and Canakkale. Fortunately, most of these areas are now under control. (ILKHA)