PodcastTurkey trying to battle fires for sixth day, as EU sends planes
The European Union has announced that it was mobilizing water-carrying planes to help Turkey extinguish fires in the country. The death toll, meanwhile, rose to eight.
Duvar English - The European Union has announced that it was mobilizing water-carrying planes to help Turkey extinguish fires in the country, as the death toll in the disaster rose to eight.
"In an immediate response, the European Commission has already helped mobilize 1 Canadair plane from Croatia and 2 Canadairs from Spain. These firefighting aeroplanes are part of rescEU, the European reserve of civil protection assets," the European Commission said in a statement.
"The EU stands in full solidarity with Turkey at this very difficult time. I thank all the countries which have offered help," said EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic, adding they stand ready to provide further assistance.
Turkey's Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun on Aug. 2 said that a total of 122 fires out of 129 in Turkey have been brought under control.
"Of the 129 fires in 35 provinces, 122 have been contained," Altun said on Twitter.
The death toll from wildfires on Turkey's southern coast rose to eight on Aug. 1 as firefighters continued their efforts to contain blazes still raging in coastal resort towns.