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EU joins rescue efforts as Turkey struggles to contain wildfires

Published

5 years ago

August 3, 2021

Three firefighting planes from Spain and Croatia have joined international efforts to battle blazes sweeping across Turkey’s south, the European Commission has said, as eight separate wildfires have remained not contained.

One plane from Croatia landed in the southern province of Antalya late Monday while two Canadairs from Spain arrived in the nearby city of Mugla on Tuesday.

At least 154 large wildfires broke out in Turkey over the past week, which the country’s President’s Office described on Tuesday as the worst fire catastrophe in decades.

Eight fires have continued in the cities of Antalya, Mugla and Isparta, the office added.

The government was criticised for lack of preparedness and being late in taking action in a region which was historically prone to devastating wildfires.

Ukraine, Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan had separately deployed firefighter planes to Turkey, the state news agency, Anadolu, reported.

Fuelled by sweltering summer temperatures, the blazes particularly hit along southern coasts and tourism hotspots.

Local authorities in Mugla and Antalya warned of fires spreading further into residential areas and several neighbourhoods were evacuated, local media reported.

The fires in Mugla threatened to reach a large power plant, Muhammet Tokat, the Mayor of Milas District, had warned.

So far, eight people have died in the fires and 47 people are receiving treatment in hospitals, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, has said.