Izmir, The Gulf Observer: At the request of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has dispatched a “BE-200CS” amphibious aircraft to aid in combating the severe forest fires affecting the western part of İzmir Province, according to Türkiye’s Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya.
The BE-200CS aircraft, which can drop up to 12 tons of water per flight, has been instrumental in the firefighting efforts. Minister Yerlikaya reported that 4,159 individuals have been evacuated from the fire-affected areas. The Turkish government has also allocated substantial funds to support local communities impacted by the disaster.
In addition to the firefighting efforts, several individuals suspected of arson have been detained. Minister Yerlikaya confirmed that those responsible for starting the fires are being identified and handed over to law enforcement authorities.
Türkiye’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, provided an update on the fire situation, stating that as of the morning of August 18, there are eight active fire fronts across the country. Over the past two days, aviation units have successfully dropped 7,662 tons of water on the affected zones.
Minister Yumaklı expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for its timely assistance. The BE-200CS amphibious aircraft arrived at Izmir’s Adnan Menderes Airport during the night of August 18, marking a significant boost to the ongoing firefighting efforts.
The collaborative support from Azerbaijan underscores the strong bilateral relations between the two nations and their commitment to addressing natural disasters through international cooperation.
