Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed that Turkey remains on high alert to combat forest fires, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to protecting its “Green Homeland.” The country’s firefighting efforts are supported by 27 aircraft, 105 helicopters, 25,000 forest workers, and 132,000 volunteers.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Erdogan shared this information on the X platform, highlighting Turkey’s comprehensive strategies for tackling forest fires from both air and ground operations. He reiterated the significance of the forests, referring to them as a “green homeland,” and assured that Turkey is on vigilant alert to safeguard these natural resources around the clock.

Erdogan reported that since the beginning of the summer, Turkey has successfully extinguished 3,062 fires. He extended his wishes for the success of the firefighters as they continue their efforts to manage the blazes across the nation. Several regions, including Antalya, Bursa, Kahramanmaras, Mersin, and Usak, have been significantly affected by forest fires recently.

Firefighting teams have managed to control the fires in Mersin, Usak, Bursa, and Antalya, while operations continue in other regions. Authorities remain on full alert, anticipating potential flare-ups due to the challenging conditions.

In recent weeks, the fires have posed severe threats, spreading to residential areas and prompting the evacuation of thousands. The rugged, mountainous terrain covered by forests poses additional challenges for firefighting teams. The fires have resulted in the tragic loss of ten firefighters and injuries to 14 others, highlighting the perilous conditions faced by those battling the blazes.