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Polish firefighters head for Turkey to help combat forest blazes

06.08.2021 15:30
A team of Polish firefighters has left for Turkey to help fight off the wildfires that have been ravaging that country, Polish Radio's IAR news agency reported on Friday.
A firefighting plane battles a wildfire near Mula, southwestern Turkey, this week.
A firefighting plane battles a wildfire near Muğla, southwestern Turkey, this week.Photo: EPA/ERDEM SAHIN

The rescue team comprises six firefighters and is expected to take part in extinguishing the blazes as well as in evacuation efforts.

The firefighters will be supported by the eight-strong crew of a police Black Hawk helicopter, according to officials.

The machine is able to put out extensive fires and reach remote areas, officials told reporters.

The decision to send the rescue mission was made by Poland's Interior Minister Mariusz Kamiński after President Andrzej Duda asked Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to provide support for Turkey, the IAR news agency reported.

Duda said in a Twitter post on Thursday that Ankara needed firefighting planes and helicopters to combat the wildfires.

"Our firefighters will head for Turkey soon," Duda tweeted.

"Friends in need can count on us," he also said.

Some of the Polish firefighters are travelling by land, while others are scheduled to fly out by helicopter on Saturday.

Both groups are expected to reach Turkey by Saturday evening.

The team made up of firefighters and policemen is scheduled to return to Poland in mid-August.

A firefighting plane battles a wildfire near Mugla, Turkey, this week.Photo: EPA/ERDEM SAHIN

Turkey has been battling the flames raging in the south of the country for the past nine days. Teams from several European Union countries, including Croatia, Spain, Greece and Sweden, are taking part in the firefighting effort, the IAR news agency reported.

Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau on Thursday offered support for Turkey in dealing with the wildfires, which have killed at least eight people and destroyed large swathes of forest in that country.

(pm/gs)

Source: IAR